@lxo All the things you said are true. But there's a strong vibe from the community that if you use nonfree software you should feel bad about it. The user who reluctantly accepts using a specific nonfree program because they need it for their job, or because the Free alternatives are just worse or maybe don't even exist... that user has nothing to feel bad about; but our community often tells them they do. Meanwhile, many of even the most zealous of us take day jobs writing nonfree (1/2)

@lxo software, and feel a twinge of guilt, but say "hey, gotta make ends meet" and "at least I contribute to Free Software", and "at least I use entirely Free Software." We should feel *very* bad about it. This is *much* stronger accompliceship than the user who pays a small sum for nonfree software they need. This is what the community's religious zeal should be focused at. (2/2)

In the hallways at #FOSSY there was a lot of talk about the religiousness of the #FreeSoftware community, and how it's kept people out.

I've turning that over in my mind in the months since then. The problem isn't the religiousness, it's who it's directed at.

The advocacy focuses on convincing users they should use Free Software, and the community says it's a sin if you use nonfree software.

But that's not the sin. The users of nonfree software aren't the sinners, the *authors* of it are.