'The main argument for the term 'open source software' is that 'free software' makes some people uneasy. That's true: talking about freedom, about ethical issues, about responsibilities as well as convenience, is asking people to think about things they might rather ignore. This can trigger discomfort, and some people may reject the idea for that. It does not follow that society would be better off if we stop talking about these things.

Today many people are switching to free software for purely practical reasons. That is good, as far as it goes, but that isn't all we need to do! Attracting us…

The explanation for 'free software' is simple--a person who has grasped the idea of 'free speech, not free beer' will not get it wrong again.

At present, we have plenty of 'keep quiet', but not enough freedom talk. Most people involved with free software say little about freedom--usually because they…