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Free software wisdom
(pointieststick.com)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
Imagine a country made up of flurbs and blorbs. Flurbs make up the majority of the government and don't recognise the existence of blorbs.
You are writing open source census software, do you include blorbs?
If you do, you get labelled a blorb sympathiser and the government stops funding development. Maybe throws you in prison.
If you don't, you get labelled a member of the Flurbian autocracy and are orchastrated from the hugely blorb open source community.
If you add a togglable option, you're still seen as sympathetic to the Flurbs because you are participating in oppressive regimes. And also supporting a blorb uprising by making them think they have a voice. Staying "neutral" is still picking a side.
So basically, you are forced to pick from a number of options based on your political (or strategic) view.