Emmanuel Florac

2021-03-29 15:07:33

Neenster : Nina Paley@nina@neenster.org

#politics #freedom #freesoftware #FSF #RMS

@[url=https://spinster.xyz/users/rcz]Radek Czajka[/url] Thanks for asking. Yes I spent plenty of time with RMS; he stayed in my NYC apartment twice while on speaking tours.

He can, indeed, be "creepy." He commits no crimes, and backs off when told. He's presumably autistic. I understand why many women feel uncomfortable around him.

BUT THAT'S NOT A GODDAMN CRIME.
Richard doesn't understand many common social cues but as far as I can tell has ALWAYS respected stated boundaries.

The whole point of Richard Stallman is he's weird, sometimes "creepy," disagreeable, socially challenged, Asperger's-y, and simultaneously brilliant and perfectly suited to what he does best. That was something that always inspired me about him. Talk about "able-ism" - Stallman himself is pretty severely "challenged" but nonetheless contributes to the benefit of all. His story showed me that you don't have to be nice, or likeable, or agreeable, or socially skilled, to make profound contributions.