Recent searches
Search options
The Keynote Will NOT Go Forward
https://libregraphicsmeeting.org/2025/news/2025-05-07_0001-keynote-will-not-go-forward/
Due to concerns from the LGM community, the planned keynote with Dr. Richard Stallman is cancelled.
The announcement made many people angry and upset, and anger and division are not what LGM is about. Public debate was one of the factors that led to this decision. The discussion can be read here: https://post.lurk.org/@lgm/114462101041791903
---
[EDIT/NOTE] The following sentence mentioning our Code of Conduct in this announcement could be interpreted as suggesting we believe Richard Stallman’s presence would make the event less safe. That interpretation is not our intention; we don’t think that way. We don’t all think that Stallman’s talk would have been a problem. Some of us wanted to hear him. The context of the discussion linked above is important to correctly interpret this announcement and the reasons that led to it. Some people voiced general discomfort about the LGM in the debate; we take these concerns seriously.
---
LGM is committed to being an inclusive and safe venue for members of the Libre Graphics community, and we stand by the commitments to safety outlined
by our Code of Conduct. https://libregraphicsmeeting.org/2025/code-of-conduct
Personal Note of the Organizer:
I’ll be welcoming everyone seeking a conversation with me about the topic.
– Lasse
@lgm great decision. I still wonder why he was invited in the first place.
@f4grx I explained myself a lot initially and tonight. Please read it up.
— Lasse
@lgm yep, doing that now that was a rhetorical question. Anyway thank you for the right decision.
@lgm @f4grx The supposed 'explanation':
"Remark: Richard Stallman is controversial.
There have been attacks against him; in the meantime, stallmansupport.org has provided a defense. After reviewing the complaints and the defense, I concluded that the concerns lacked substantive weight."
You concluded. That women. Were lying. About RMS.
Fuck you.
@monokeros @lgm thats ok, he's canceled already, no need to insist.
@lgm Thanks for retreating in a reasonable timeframe. I was worried that I had to skip this LGM (on the first time I'm going!) Back to getting excited about the talks 
(By the way you may want to edit the original post to indicate an update)
Thank you !
@lgm @davidrevoy Seems like a smart move, and that’s a good statement too. Regardless of the topic itself; thanks for listening and acting. That’s how to grow confidence in an organisation.
@lgm I don't see how decent humans are going to feel comfortable in that environment until the leadership has a full flush. Yikes.
@hydropsyche @lgm You may have a wrong idea of what the "leadership" of LGM is. It's rarely the same team. Sometimes not even a team. In 2025, it's one person.
@prokoudine @hydropsyche @lgm thank you for explaining this. And indeed we’re looking for local organizers in 2026 and 2027. I will publish an announcement later this week for that. There are also sessions planned on searching, how we can structure the community for the future, as currently there’s not much if any structure left. This is a good time to flush and rebuild and everyone is welcome to participate and get involved.
@prokoudine @hydropsyche @lgm Hello again, Alexander! Are you still shrieking furiously at people who criticize GIMP for even precise and well-founded technical reasons, or have you amended your habits in the years since we last met?
@alexis @hydropsyche @lgm Whoever you are, you clearly didn't learn some manners. Congrats, you've just earned a block.
@prokoudine @hydropsyche @lgm So, yes.
Thank you for not forcing me to re-examine my longstanding and well-founded in experience judgments of free software ideologues and their, let us say, gratingly idiosyncratic and tiresome malcontent's perspective on software and its desiderata. At this late date, I'm not sure my heart could stand such a shock!
@alexis @prokoudine @hydropsyche @lgm
lmao!!!
block me as well please Aleksandr
@floppyplopper @alexis@tilde.zone Don't know who you are either, but you asked nicely, so there you go
@alexis @prokoudine @hydropsyche @lgm
and nothing of value was lost as a result 
@lgm just to be clear, that means he's not going to be present at the meeting itself either, right?
@Wolthera I do not expect him to show up, yes. Why should he?
Technically it would be possible, we don’t have a mandatory registration and no ID card check either. Like anyone else, he could just come by.
@lgm all of this was really unnecessary...
@lgm thank you!!
@lgm the text should really read "The announcement made many people uncomfortable, feel excluded, and not want to attend, and inclusion is what LGM is about."
@lgm thank you for reconsidering. It may feel like heartbreak not to be able to host such an idol, but many, many people have done that and received the harmful effects. You are doing good.
The announcement made many people angry and upset, and anger and division are not what LGM is aboutCan I then safely assume literally nobody is angry and/or upset at cancelling a keynote by literally the biggest contributor to libre software? That would be very concerning from an organisation with "libre" in the name.
LGM is committed to being an inclusive and safe venueNot very inclusive if you refuse to host anyone due to false online allegations.
Here's an idea: Don't tolerate intolerance. When people say they will be angry and upset unless you exclude someone, tell them they are free to exclude themselves instead.
If LGM caves to bullies and creates a hostile environment like this, I will be making sure to avoid it and recommend others to avoid it as well.
@lgm what a shame
@lgm His presence definitely would've made it unsafe.
@lgm Pal, I've seen Stallman make one shitty joke and 20 women walk out the room. I was in the room. You can cherish whatever illusions you want about Richard Stallman, his behavior, and its effect on other people. Those of us with personal experience of the man have cause to know better.
@lgm fucking hell, stop doubling down on Richard Stallman! people in YOUR community are literally saying they wouldn't feel safe if he was present, is that so hard to understand and listen to?
@lgm You can't have your cake and eat it too. You also can't cancel somebody's keynote and then say that you don't think there is anything wrong with hosting them.
Trying to make everybody happy will just make everybody upset. Sad that you lost your spine though...
@lgm "some of us wanted to hear him"
sounds like there are pedo apologists in the room.