FreedomBox

[david poehlman]

This is so far off topic that I hesitate to jump in here,  But I feel 
compelled to make an observation.  I feel from what I have seen on this list 
alone that freedom box is actually getting in the way of people really using 
computers.  It strikes me also that lots of people who are already using 
computers are not rushing to use freedom box.  Even though at the moment, 
the proxie may be doing good work, it has the potential to become big 
brother for whatever reason, and I would not knowingly develop that kind of 
relationship.  It's bad enough that comcast has blockages for certain types 
of activities, but they havve not the capacity to block my web travel at 
least not yet.

-- 
Johnnie Apple Seed
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matt Campbell" <mattc at freedombox.cc>
To: <Kwatson at smed.yi.org>; "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." 
<speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 12:25 AM
Subject: Re: FreedomBox


Keith Watson wrote:
> First, the fact that a person has to log onto your system in
> order to utilize it clearly tells me that you have the *ability*
> to track your clients movements. That by default gives Kalvo the
> means to practice his past known activities.
[End of quote.]

What past known activites?  There is no evidence that he has ever
tracked the activites of others without their permission or knowledge.

Keith continued:
> Second, twice now you have said that you are the only programmer
> and systems admin for him. But what you have not said is that you
> are the only one who has access to the systems and the
> information on those systems. It would be my guess that he does
> indeed have the access to those systems and thus can do what he
> damn well pleases with or without your knowing it. So unless you
> are the only person that accesses those boxes I doubt that you
> are fully aware of all the activities that go on half a continent
> away from you.
[End of quote.]

All right, I'll be more specific.  He does have access to our systems'
root passwords.  However, he doesn't know the first thing about how to
use Linux, which is what we run on our servers.  Thus, all he can really
use is the web-based software that I've written for him and other
Serotek employees.  While users' recently visited sites, bookmarks, and
cookies are stored on one of our servers so that users have access to
their information from anywhere, I am the only person who has
unrestricted access to that information.  Mike Calvo has no more access
to that information than anyone else.  He also does not have access to
any logs or reports regarding users' activities on the Web.

Keith continued:
> Third, I have never claimed that any of these activities are
> taking place.
[End of quote.]

Really?  I quote from your previous message:

 > Matt
 > may claim that they are not doing any tracking, but from past
 > experience with others in the company I have no doubt that it is
 > being done, whether he knows about it or not.
[End of quote.]

Keith concluded:
> from the history of the person I would be as fearful of
> that as I would be in handing a junkie a vial of crack and
> telling him not to use it. How long do you think that it would
> take for the urge to overcome him? Not long I would suppose.
[End of quote.]

Do you realize how offensive that statement is?  You're comparing a
person who you don't even know, and who has done this community much
more good than harm (if any harm at all), to a crack head.  Mike Calvo
is a member of the blind community who, with the help of myself and
others, has made a positive difference in hundreds of lives through
FreedomBox.  People who never touched a computer before are enjoying the
benefits of the Internet thanks to Mike's work.  With FreedomBox 2.0,
seasoned computer users are enjoying and benefitting from the Internet
even more.  And FreedomBox has the potential to do good for thousands or
millions of people.  Over the past four and a half years, Mike has
devoted his life to FreedomBox, with negligible monetary compensation in
return so far.  And before that, he put over 400 blind people to work,
many of which still have those jobs or have progressed in their career;
this is documented.  The last thing he deserves is such an insult.  As
one of his best friends and closest colleagues, I am offended too.  If
you disagree with some of our business practices and can back up yoru
statements wiht facts, fine.  But don't throw the baby out with the bath
water, and please don't stoop to personal attacks!
-- 
Matt Campbell
Lead Programmer
Serotek Corporation
www.freedombox.info

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