SCO systems and 'Target Deprecation'

[Jamie Lokier]

Shaun Jackman wrote:
> If you intend to boycott a target, make sure you're hurting the intended
> target of the boycott and not friendly users. For example, I make use of
> the arm-wince-pe target, and for whatever political reason someone might
> decide to discontinue support for Microsoft platforms. However, this
> decision wouldn't hurt Microsoft; it would hurt me, an avid GNU
> supporter. s/Microsoft/SCO/ and ask yourself if this boycott still makes
> sense.

Arguably the boycott is not intended to "hurt" anyone.

It is a political statement, to draw attention to the harm being
caused by SCO, and show solidarity with the other Free Software
authors whose reputations are being inappropriately slighted by SCO.

If that results in customers choosing a different vendor than SCO,
then it might be considered "hurt" in as much as a corporation can
ever be hurt.

However, the spirit of the Free Software movement is such that a much
better outcome would be if SCO changed its collective mind and decided
to support the principles of Free Software through cooperation and
mutual benefit.

By the way, in your example, while it is possible to be an avid GNU
supporter, support takes many forms, not just talking about it.  If
Microsoft were attacking popular Free Software to the extent that SCO
is (which they are not at present), a significant way for you to
support GNU would be to switch to a different platform.  Conversely,
by choosing to not switch platforms you are conveying that supporting
GNU is less important to you than continuing to use a platform whose
vendor is (in the example) actively trying to damage GNU's goals.  It
is hardly surprising that you'd receive less support from GNU
volunteers as a result of your choice.

-- Jamie