> You're mischaracterizing what I'm saying.

"I'm saying"? Why are you posting from multiple nonsense account names?

> For one thing you're talking about "someone" when I'm taking about "someone with power".

Are you sure you it's a mischaracterization? Or is it a disagreement over what are the important parts?

> Copyleft isn't about two people, one gaining power over the other. It's about lots of people with no power protecting themselves again one entity with a lot of power to impose themselves.

That's sounds like two parties, who disagree about what they should be allowed to do with the work of others. One side thinks they should be able to control the behavior and actions of the other, and the other disagrees they should have any say over how they act. In that example which side is the GPL, and which side do you think I believe is more free?

> Are you new to HN?

Brand new!

> Every month there's news of projects trying to arrest power contributors using various shenanigans. Copyleft protects against a class of such attacks.

Then you should have specific examples you can describe and or cite?

> Eg Oracle and open office, red hat and centos.

those are names of companies, not examples of embrace, extend, extinguish... which is the FUD you started with?

the reddit post isn't linux losing control, is it? They made an insulin pump, and used linux... did linux lose control over anything? Is the best version of Linux on that insulin pump? Given it appears to be killing patients, I'm gonna guess it's not the best version, and the best version is still what I'm gonna call "mainline".

I restrict myself to foss software as much as I can. Because I want to be able to modify, and hack on the stuff I use. I also strongly support right to repair laws. But I'm unwilling to force my opinions on others. If you want to make something, and keep it secret, and set rules about how I'm allowed to use it, that's reasonable. I'm gonna tell you no, and suggest you piss off. Then I'll find or make something to replace it. I've never seen other person doing things, as preventing me from doing it myself or my way. And haven't found an example of it happening, other than people saying, I should be able to take what you made, and use it how I want without asking you for permission.

Either you believe 1) others should be able to set rules related to how they are allowed to use your work, or 2) you don't support the GPL

I guess there is a secret third option where you believe that you should be able to make up rules, but no one else should.