Comparing Open-Source Contributions to Civic Duties Like Jury Service
By
bckmn
Crispy enough to crunch, soft enough to enjoy. A good bake.
Summary
The author reflects on a journal entry from seven years ago where they compared jury duty as a civic responsibility to the idea of mandatory contributions to open-source software for those who benefit from free and open-source software (FOSS). The piece explores the concept of treating open-source contributions as a civic duty similar to jury service, suggesting that users of FOSS should have some obligation to contribute back to the community that provides them with free software.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledI have to go to jury duty as a member of this democracy. what if I had a summons to contribute to open source software because I use FOSS?
I was so happy to go spend a day exercising my membership in this hallmark of democracy: a participation requirement in return for the benefits I enjoy under due process of the law.
A note I found in my journal, from seven years ago, on the day I was summoned to participate in a jury of my peers
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