You're downplaying it entirely. He has a track record of handing out sexualized 'pleasure cards' at professional conferences.
Women at MIT were warned away from him, told to keep plants to ward him off.
And one of the most troubling things he has done is psychological manipulation. Many jurisdictions rightly recognise as domestic abuse. In particular, he told one woman he would kill himself if she didn't date him.
Depressed people should seek treatment. Being depressed doesn't excuse manipulation.
For heavens sake, "business or pleasure?" was the question you were asked at the border before getting a stamp in your passport once upon a time.
So a business card turned into a pleasure card, which has nothing to do with sex at all, except for people who want to see things that aren't there.
It's one of RMS's quaint re-namings, and people turn it into something sinister.
> Women at MIT were warned away from him, told to keep plants to ward him off.
That may have been a joke or they didn't want to listen to his preaching. Anecdotal hearsay anyway.
> he told one woman he would kill himself if she didn't date him.
How did he say that? Most likely as a joke, which millions of people have done.
But hey, let's focus on Stallman who wasn't even involved with Epstein himself instead of the people that Epstein collected dossiers about. Those would be the interesting ones, but perhaps some corporate or political interests don't allow it.
Thank you for the explanation of the "business or pleasure" connection. That's how I read it as well but with everyone pulling out their torches and scythes for a witch hunt, I was starting to second guess my own opinion and perception of all this. I'm not sure if there's a word for that phenomenon...
You downplay the sexual harassment of handing out these 'pleasure cards'.
But ultimately, real women are upset by it. The unprofessional behavior discourages women from being in tech.
Just because you wouldn't mind receiving such a card, doesn't mean it's not harassment. I mean, do you understand (a) the nature of consent, and (b) professional workplace environments?
I wouldn't call anyone (woman or man) that can't handle being upset "real". In fact it is the opposite of it. It shows a distinct lack of skills in dealing with reality, that is if you accept that real life is not just rainbows and sunshine, no matter how much we desire so.
>In particular, he told one woman he would kill himself if she didn't date him.
>Depressed people should seek treatment. Being depressed doesn't excuse manipulation.
I've been on the receiving end of that same situation; and yet, I don't think inciting an internet hate mob to banish that person from their life's work indefinitely is the proper "treatment" I'd recommend to give that person.
Women at MIT were warned away from him, told to keep plants to ward him off.
And one of the most troubling things he has done is psychological manipulation. Many jurisdictions rightly recognise as domestic abuse. In particular, he told one woman he would kill himself if she didn't date him.
Depressed people should seek treatment. Being depressed doesn't excuse manipulation.