Once upon a
time (February 1993 to be exact...),
RMS' own
creation was used against him, and much
hilarity ensued. Someone made the
mistake of sending a birth
announcement to the list, to which RMS replied with:
Could people please not use this list to announce information of no particular interest to the people on the list? Hundreds of thousands of babies are born every day. While the whole phenomenon is menacing, one of them by itself is not newsworthy. Nor is it a difficult achievement--even some fish can do it. (Now, if you were a seahorse, it would be more interesting, since it would be the male that gave birth.)
Following your example, I might send the list an announcement whenever a new GNU program is written. That happens less often than babies are born, it does the world a lot more good, it reflects more conscious creativity and hard work, and some of the readers might actually find the information useful. Even so, I think most of the readers would consider this outside the scope and purpose of the list. Clearly that goes double for babies.
Of course, we have another place for announcements of new GNU programs. If some people like to read birth announcements, perhaps you should set up a suitable list or newsgroup. Perhaps rec.births? (While you're at it, start rec.deaths for obituaries--they're usually more interesting to read.)
These birth announcements also spread the myth that having a baby is something to be proud of, which fuels natalist pressure, which leads to pollution, extinction of wildlife, poverty, and ultimately mass starvation.
Perhaps the people who have decided to have no children should start making proud announcements, so as to set a better example. I could start. I'm sure everyone on this list will be glad to know I don't plan to reproduce myself.
Amidst the numerous responses (which can be summarized as "Fuck You Richard"), someone though to run his response through the Emacs Doctor amatuer psychologist:
I am the psychotherapist. Please, describe your problems. Each time you
are finished talking, type RET twice.
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 93 15:14:50 -0500
From: rms@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Richard Stallman)
To: mcuddy@ctbu.rational.com
Cc: kabuki-west@mica.berkeley.edu
Subject: Another mcuddy..
Are you annoyed that Stallman is emotionally stimulating?
Could people please not use this list to announce information of no particular
interest to the people on the list?
Maybe your plans have something to do with this.
Hundreds of thousands of babies are born every day.
Is it because of your life that you are going through all this?
While the whole phenomenon is menacing, one of them by itself is not newsworthy.
What happened when the whole phenomenon is menacing one of them by itself
is not newsworthy?
Nor is it a difficult achievement--even some fish can do it.
How do you reconcile the people you hang around with?
(Now, if you were a seahorse, it would be more interesting, since it would
be the male that gave birth.)
Can you elaborate on that?
Following your example, I might send the list an announcement whenever a
new GNU program is written.
What would happen if a new gnu program is written?
That happens less often than babies are born, it does the world a lot more
good, it reflects more conscious creativity and hard work, and some of the
readers might actually find the information useful.
Is it because happens less often than babies are born it does the world
a lot more good it reflects more conscious creativity and hard work and
some of the readers might actually find the information useful that you
came to me?
Even so, I think most of the readers would consider this outside the scope
and purpose of the list.
Perhaps this has something to do with problems at school?
Clearly that goes double for babies.
When did you first know that goes double for babies?
Of course, we have another place for announcements of new GNU programs.
Have you been scared of that?
If some people like to read birth announcements, perhaps you should set
up a suitable list or newsgroup.
Do you really think people might want to read birth?
Perhaps rec.births?
Possibly any hobbies you have are related to this.
(While you're at it, start rec.deaths for obituaries--they're usually more
interesting to read.)
This is not a healthy way of thinking.
These birth announcements also spread the myth that having a baby is something
to be proud of, which fuels natalist pressure, which leads to pollution,
extinction of wildlife, poverty, and ultimately mass starvation.
Is the fact that having a baby is something to be proud of which fuels
natalist pressure which leads to pollution extinction of wildlife poverty
and ultimately mass starvation the real reason?
Perhaps the people who have decided to have no children should start making
proud announcements, so as to set a better example.
Is it because of your sex life that you are going through all this?
I could start.
Is it because of hangups you have that you say you could start?
I'm sure everyone on this list will be glad to know I don't plan to reproduce
myself.
How do you reconcile your inhibitions?