>>70
If slavery was legal, then some people will choose to sell themselves into slavery. Choosing to put yourself into slavery isn't freedom. First, the slave must get out of that situation of servitude before the slave is considered free. Likewise, choosing to accept proprietary software isn't freedom. The reason is that users are expected to live in helplessness. Users choose to give up their authority to run software for any purpose (freedom 0). Users also choose to choose to give up their authority to tinker with their software (freedom 1). The user must first appeal for help from the master of the system whenever there needs to be some change in the user's system. How does one live in freedom when one needs permission to conduct some private business?
The people operating the machines are not necessarily the computer users. I operate automated teller machines at my bank to make use of the bank's services. I am operating the bank's computer system and not MY OWN computer system. When I go visit a friend's house and ask to use their computer, it is not MY system that I will be operating; I'll be operating my friend's system. Of course I must first ask permission to do some things on
their system.
When it comes to my own personal machines, I will have to give up my freedom in order to use proprietary software; I will no longer have full authority over my machines. The good news, however, is that I can reclaim my freedom when I get rid of proprietary software.