This kind of hateful immature rhetoric should not be supported by the Gnome Foundation.
Full disclosure: I reported this comment initially, but it remains intact.
This sentiment is rational, but what are you preaching?
The last thing I want from my software (remember, that’s what Gnome is) is to be preached at. It appears you’re cognizent that Bluesky is an echo chamber born from politics. Please keep politics out of software.
That is a valid question. GNOME self defines as a software ecosystem people can trust. This is in opposition to e.g. Windows and its recall feature, macOS with built-in surveillance from iCloud. This trust goes beyond features: to trust their computer, people not only need to know it’s not going to do things behind their back, they also need to know that the computer can do the things they need it to do (which might be a sore point at times).
I am not going to reply to the rest of the post.
Because it is correct and does not violate the Code of Conduct, or the terms of this forum. X/Twitter has become the Nazi bar of social media.
Then you probably want to change desktop environment, because GNOME (and all Free and Open Source Software) is explicitly political.
No. You should leave this community if you really think this.
Software is inherently political. Sorry!
Agreed, but I will politely provide a short response as this is ironically about “engagement” team and I’m being prompted get lost.
I was afforded an entire career in software development and eventual management of an incredible group of engineers until retirement in 2018 at age 46. The Linux ecosystem has always played a huge role in my life and I never once needed to engage in any political aspect.
I won’t. I’ll continue to appreciate the hard work of developers and the quality of the software that I’ve chose to use. I’ll keep filing well-stated issues and testing MRs. Thanks.
EDIT: Thread is now titled “Software is Political”
My point in chiming in here in the first place was to offer my opinion that it doesn’t have to be.
If your company directly or indirectly (through partners, clients, consultants, etc) worked with any lawyers or lobbyists in any capacity, then you were engaged in politics. The other executives were just personally insulating you from that aspect of the business…
Fair enough. My fault for not being clearer in my point.
Before the topic title is further dissected semantically… yes I understand nearly all people and business on earth are affected by politics, including private business with lawyers. And, we all must “engage” to some extent as a matter of course.
I’m of the opinion, however, that businesses, software organizations, etc need not actively advocate political stances or provide public opinions outside their respective areas of specific expertise. Software is a tool. Crafting quality tools should be the focus.
I’m also well aware of various instances of politics in software through history. I don’t live under a rock. In every such instance, I only find the fact disheartening.
Correct. We provide products to the RF/cellular space, and those products are further isolated behind various private carrier networks (e.g Verizon EDN). No political opinions voiced from vendors or customers that I ever encountered. Guess I was lucky. I’m sure you could dig something up if you want to “prove me wrong”.
Ultimately, I’m not here to argue. I’m not saying anyone who’s replied to me is wrong. And, I’m not “leaving the community” even if y’all now dislike me for my opinion 
Cheers!
I can’t speak for that specific business but it seems anything like that involving communications infrastructure is a ripe target for politicking. I could recommend the book IBM and the Holocaust for an example of what happened when infrastructure companies engaged with the Nazi party under the guise of just shipping quality products to another client government. The point being, one does not need to outwardly voice political opinions to engage in politics, as always actions speak louder than words…
Well played, sir.
Now that the contextually correct use of the term has been used, let’s circle back to the simple beginnings of this discussion…
A person representing Gnome in some capacity used this term in a derogatory/disparaging manor. I flagged the post, but it remained unedited. A second Gnome affiliate (forum mod/admin no less) doubled down on said usage by pointing to some Wikipedia entry as a way of normalizing it.
Had this originally been spewed by some typical Reddit troll I would have moved on as that language has unfortunately become too common these days.
It’s worrisome that this is tolerated and seemingly endorsed by members representing the brand on a public forum, while simultaneously attempting to promote “engagement”.
It wasn’t derogatory or disparaging, there is plenty of examples of this being reported in the media, e.g. here: Verified pro-Nazi X accounts flourish under Elon Musk
I don’t think you are serious about discussing this if you are going to use these rude “gotcha” type statements. Please stop this. Although IMO this topic should just be closed.
The GNOME community has many members that are part of groups are already are or will be suffering under a future Trump administration. And Musk, being a nice bootstrap holder, who made Twitter a swap of fascists, hate on anything that isn’t “normal”, that will overrun you if you dare to use the free speech that is held so dear by its owner to utter something that isn’t compliant with their world view.
I do not want to throw those people under the bus “for the sake of clicks”. Given the state of Twitter many of those clicks are people I wouldn’t want to touch with an 8ft (2.4m) pole.
Also, as a German - and as you might have heard, we are kind of experts on Nazis - I totally agree with Sri.
I see two options here. Either you can afford to turn blind ignorance to what is happening with Twitter, Musk & Trump because you think that are not part of any group that will be affected by any of that - or that or you appreciate it.
