Begin by acknowledging that Stallman is insane. But that is not enough.
The second, mandatory step is to pivot to his work -- and stay there.
The third step (which, regrettably, must be optional) is to consider the relationship between insanity and exceptional innovation/productivity. We've been trying to ignore that one for centuries, but it is responsible for much of what we use and value.
Here's a 1 hour 10 minute long interview where he talks not only about software but also about his personal history with software[1]. Notable to me was the point where he describes the time shortly before and after he started the free software foundation where he came up with the minimum amount of time a year that he had to work in order to pay the bills and still save a bit of money, and he uses the rest for his activism for free software.
He strikes me not as insane, but as someone with great moral clarity and unusual conviction.
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[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 17.4 ms ] threadThe second, mandatory step is to pivot to his work -- and stay there.
The third step (which, regrettably, must be optional) is to consider the relationship between insanity and exceptional innovation/productivity. We've been trying to ignore that one for centuries, but it is responsible for much of what we use and value.
Here's a 1 hour 10 minute long interview where he talks not only about software but also about his personal history with software[1]. Notable to me was the point where he describes the time shortly before and after he started the free software foundation where he came up with the minimum amount of time a year that he had to work in order to pay the bills and still save a bit of money, and he uses the rest for his activism for free software.
He strikes me not as insane, but as someone with great moral clarity and unusual conviction.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucXYWG0vqqk