[techieMoe]

Apparently my definition of idealism isn't the popular consensus. That's ok. You all have your definition, and I have mine. I stand by the idea that practical thinking saves the world, and unrealistic dreaming dooms it.

Originally Posted by elija

This is very true, but idealism should never be confused with extremism. To my mind Stallman is not as different from Bill Gates as I imagine he'd like to think he is.

You have a point. Although in theory I agree with most (but not all) of the "ideals" Richard Stallman espouses, he takes them far beyond the logical extreme. Extreme personalities like Stallman are detrimental to Linux in general. And don't get me started on his "GNU/Linux" rants.

[Manchunian]

practical thinking saves the world, and unrealistic dreaming dooms it.

Both can doom the world when taken to extremes. It's an extremely practical idea to take your car half a mile to the shops, but it's the sort of behaviour that's contributing to Global warming; it's a very practical idea to genetcially modify chickens to not have feathers so you don't have to pluck them, it saves time - great invention! It's a very practical idea to clone humans so that you can do 'practical' experiments to cure diseases. No, I don't think 'practical' pushed to extremes is any less dangerous than idealism - and I think we've only just started to feel the effects of our previous obsession with the pragmatic.

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by Manchunian

Both can doom the world when taken to extremes.

I agree.

It's an extremely practical idea to take your car half a mile to the shops, but it's the sort of behaviour that's contributing to Global warming;

That's debatable. Don't get me started.

[fingal]

Originally Posted by techieMoe

That's debatable. Don't get me started.

You always give us little clues when you disagree with something, doncha?

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by fingal

You always give us little clues when you disagree with something, doncha?

What was your first clue? :P

[fingal]

Originally Posted by techieMoe

What was your first clue? :P

[Manchunian]

Looks very practical, that rock!

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by Manchunian

Looks very practical, that rock!

[obscure]
Yes, because you know everybody wants a rock to wind a piece of string around.
[/obscure]

[Manchunian]

No, because when the sea level rises (which it's already started to do) you'll be able to rescue yourself by standing on it.

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by Manchunian

No, because when the sea level rises (which it's already started to do) you'll be able to rescue yourself by standing on it.

Or toss it at Al Gore's private jet.