Except that "freedom of assembly" is a well-defined act that any reasonable person would conclude doesn't include DDoS attacks.

Yes, it's completely worthless because there are some cases where it couldn't be used!

The slashdot community has become one of the most insufferable communities on the internet. Rob Malda dumped ya'll, and now this dated website is changing hands at breakneck speed as the new owners realize their user base consists of a bunch of idiot neckbeards who are incapable of contributing anything of value. You're all disillusioned by the vapid self-affirmation that dominates any discussion. You all need to seriously consider the possibility that you're a bunch of fucking idiots.

The FSF can define free software however they want. They have no jurisdiction in forcing *their* definition onto others. They're a bunch of ideologues whose relevance is approaching zero.

You act like people gravitate toward superior products, as opposed to the product with superior marketing. Microsoft is still fighting the deeply ingrained stigma that their products just aren't cool. People are more interested in fitting in than they are making objective decisions regarding the quality of the thing they will be consuming.

And this is why RMS is no longer relevant -- his masturbatory pedantry. The only thing I'd ask RMS is to take his meds, he's clearly mentally ill and his paranoid ramblings do not deserve the platform they're given.

I'm not sure how you've come to this conclusion, because I surely didn't imply that.

I disagree. Anyone with enough experience can write code like riding a bike -- writing the code itself is largely automatic when you know what you're trying to accomplish. Programming in general is about decomposing problems and solving them. This is where drugs can have a positive influence, not in that they make one *better* at problem solving, but they allow the mind to see a problem differently, perhaps offering an angle that the sober mind hasn't considered. Having multiple perspectives is always a good thing, and sometimes drugs can help with that.

The slashdot contingent still fails to see the value in a more closed, locked-down environment. I realize it butts heads with the ideology around here, but there is value to it, namely, a greater barrier to entry for malware. Wasn't there a story here on slashdot just a few days ago about a guy who can't go anywhere without his Android getting hacked into? Exactly.

Windows RT devices don't have a desktop. If you're claiming that only Microsoft can write desktop apps on Windows 8 (x86), that would be patently false.

No.

No, he made millions of dollars allowing other people to download music/movies/games/software that other people made and own the rights to. Oh, he was a brazen prick while he did it, too. Karma is a bitch.

If he gets a fair trial, yes.

If anything, the more level-headed users have left for reddit. The only people who stick around here are people who scream "SHILL!" the second anyone has an opinion about Microsoft that isn't paranoid in nature.

This is fucking slashdot. You simply imply that Microsoft still writes unstable software, it doesn't actually have to be true.

"Windows Runtime, or WinRT, is a cross-platform application architecture on the Windows 8 operating system. WinRT supports development in C++/CX (Component Extensions, a language based on C++) and the managed languages C# and VB.NET, as well as JavaScript. WinRT applications natively support both the x86 and ARM architectures, and also run inside a sandboxed environment to allow for greater security and stability."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Runtime

I've never met a group of people so boastful with their ignorance. No wonder Rob Malda jumped ship, I'd be ashamed too.

WinRT is the name of the runtime you fucking moron. It runs on ARM and x86. What do you think RT stands for? Hint: It rhymes with fun time.

No, WinRT is the name of the runtime that runs on both ARM and X86. What do you think the RT stands for?