I recently watched a video of a talk given by Richard Stallman (rms) a
       few days ago. After some time to think about it, I'm not sure how to
       feel.
       
       You can get the video to watch for yourself:
 (HTM) rms' talk
       
       The talk is rms' usual speech concerning free (as in freedom) software
       and the evils of proprietary software. While he makes a lot of good
       points, and a lot of what he says makes sense, his zealotry in the
       matter makes it difficult to subscribe to, or even accept, his ideals
       which, at the very least, can be considered extremist.
       
       At its very core, his message is correct and palatable. Unless
       software is free (not necessarily gratis), there's no way for its
       users to be in control of their digital workings. We can't know if
       something is spying on us or hurting us or our data unless we have
       access to the source. We have to, instead, rely on trust, something
       which is becoming more and more rare in the digital world in which we
       live.
       
       Yet, unfortunately, there's a day-to-day practicality in surrendering
       our digital freedom for the sake of convenient software and
       services. Even if I can't prove what all the software I use is or is
       not doing, I'm able to conveniently get my work and personal business
       done. At what cost? It's hard to quantify. However, it is a sacrifice
       I have chosen to make. A sacrifice I find myself questioning and
       second guessing after hearing talks such as the one in this video.
       
       As I write this on my MacBook running OS X, sitting next to my iPhone
       while my iPad charges and my AppleTV awaits my return to "The Clone
       Wars" on Netflix, I fully realize and admit my current dependence upon
       Apple: their software, their services, their world, their rules, their
       sandbox, their jail. I also understand that Apple is not the only
       proprietary digital dependence I have. I get it. I understand the
       extreme lack of freedom I have. Yet, I also have to admit: I enjoy the
       Apple products. They work well. They tend to be intuitive. They rarely
       require much maintenance or change. They are practical by means of
       being convenient. Yes, I've put my trust in a company that could, at
       any time, screw us all over. Some would say they already have, time
       and again. This is a sacrifice I've chosen, and (at least for the
       moment) is a sacrifice I will continue to make.
       
       However, there will always be a nagging little voice in my head,
       whispering things like "GNU"[1] and "FSF"[2]. There will always be a
       bit of doubt and a bit of concern about my lack of freedom over the
       software I use. While it is unlikely I will ever reach a point where I
       use nothing but free (as in freedom) software, there may come a time
       when I choose the sacrifices required to be as free as I can over the
       sacrifices of proprietary convenience. Today just isn't that day,
       though even now the silent mental debate continues in my head.
       
 (HTM) [1] GNU
 (HTM) [2] FSF