The Stallman Report

On the one hand, the case seems too little. Some weird opinions (but are you in the free country with free speech to express even weird opinions?), then an interaction back in the 80's(!!!), exactly one weird comment on stage, suggestive behaviour...

On the other hand, it's not a criminal charge. It's about who and how leads an institution.

I've seen post-USSR academic institutions led by old directors for decades, with good scientific achievements in the background, but at the time just being there for the old merits, doing ceremonial stuff and signing the necessary minimum of papers. At the time, academia was centrally financed, so they negotiated the money with the upper ranks of the same age and background.

Their behaviour was weird to many people around: comments about ages & sex (like "women's business is the kitchen"), broad judgements, "don't be stupid kid, turn your brain on" kind of comments, making people unease. Quite likely bitter about the USSR collapse. My female friends said they were told after studying or working in academia that they should go have kind rather than try getting PhD. There was no other institution of the same kind in the city. And after all, why should YOU quit as soon as you get unprofessional treatment?

Recalling this, I can understand the discontent with Stallman and the board.

That's pretty insightful comment for someone of post-USSR background as well. The important difference here is that all the institutions in question were founded by Stallman himself. And there are plenty of open-source communities that don't involve Stallman at all, and the barrier to create new ones is low as well - as soon as people are willing to follow you.

And, indeed, I can't speak for everyone but his continued involvement with FSF has put it off the list of organizations I'm interested in working with at all.

Thus demonstrating an effective filter against the type of pitchfork wielders and keyboard warriors who want to destroy and punish, rather than create and flourish.