this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2026
-22 points (33.3% liked)

Technology

89003 readers
2642 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
L3s@lemmy.world
enu@lemmy.world
technopagan@lemmy.world
L4s@lemmy.world
L3s@hackingne.ws
-22
Linus and Linux as a political tool (jeferson.me)
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by Shin@piefed.social to c/technology@lemmy.world
46 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

In my view, all software is political in one way or another. Also, when software makes an attempt to be "politically neutral", in doing so it is making a political point.

So let's pick the Linus questionable part regarding the not a Social Warrior place, and I feel that it is time to either think about it or talk about it.

All feedback is welcomed.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] jabjoe@feddit.uk 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

He has always claimed this apolitical stance. He hasn't an issue with closed software. He used bitlocker until it became the problem it was always going to be. He not in it for freedom, just for the benefits of the freedom to him. He is an engineer, not a philosopher.

Only of course that stance doesn't add up. What you will, and won't, work with and on is a political choice.

If you are willingly fixing the trains at Auschwitz, you are a Nazi engineer, not just an engineer.

Loads of tech people take the stance they are apolitical, but are they really amoral when the chips are down?

[–] Shin@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If you are willingly fixing the trains at Auschwitz, you are a Nazi engineer, not just an engineer.

Ouch this hurts. On another comment the analogy with religion made me think about it. I am still pondering about to be honest. And I don't have a good answer.

But the moment you take action in favor of detriment of others, this means something.

[–] jabjoe@feddit.uk 2 points 2 days ago

Religion is a whole other thing. Sure, it can direct your moral compass, but you don't need it to have a moral compass. It can make a bad person act good, but it can also make a good person act bad.

I agree that in the end, it is all about the effect you actions, or inactions, have on others.