[Fsf-friends] Freedom is not the same as freaking

[Ramanraj K]

Raghavendra Bhat wrote:

>We should  instead write  to the
>Editor of `Malayala Manorama' thanking him ...
>
The media reaches out to millions of people every day, and if they could 
present facts, as they are, to the public, it would be a great boon and 
benefit to all concerned.  Presenting the free software movement in 
correct light will increase use of free software, and possibly attract 
better talents towards the movement.

The Financial Express, which is part of the Indian Express group appears 
to have published 
http://fecolumnists.expressindia.com/full_column.php?content_id=22247 an 
article some time back, using the word Dick to refer to the founder of 
the Free Software Movement which is  inappropriate.  While the press has 
freedom to report using language it thinks fit, it does not extend to 
freaking on important news or publishing crude articles.  Of course, we 
could ignore such news items as not worth our attention or time, but the 
press does reach out to the public at large, and therefore, some concern 
needs to be shown when such issues crop up.

Indian Express web site uses PHP which is compiled ideally with gcc and 
make. Indian Express uses free software not because it is free or cheap, 
or because Indian Express is poor, but because it is robust and 
reliable.  We can highlight the practical value of free software and its 
philosophy, so that the media is more serious in its research and 
reporting of news connected with free software movement.

As Raghavendra Bhat and Anil wrote, we should make it a point to 
appreciate factual coverage by the press, and quickly respond to any 
news that freaks on free software.