I have interacted with RMS. He stayed at a friend's house, and I went to one of his lectures. Though I'm not a friend of the man, I know that what you're saying was not true, at least during the time that me and my friends met with him.

This type of rumor mongering is hurtful and should be opposed.

"He didn't harass women during the two days I interacted with him, therefore he has never done so" is not as strong a defense as you seem to think.

"I heard somebody say he harassed women, so he must have done so" is also not as strong an attack as you seem to think.

When did you stop beating your wife ?

> He didn't harass women during the two days I interacted with him, therefore he has never done so

Exactly, he's innocent until proven guilty, like everybody else.

You're implying that "I heard from someone that heard it from someone else, that heard it from their dad, that read it on a mailing list, 20 years ago, that he did, therefore ho did"

> It seems

seems does not qualify as evidence

> circles that interacted with RMS

Like Thomas Lord?

https://archive.is/7qepC

You don't there is enough mud to go around? MIT can do the Yogi Berra schtick by throwing Stallman out. But if so, it still does not automatically follow that it was the wrong thing to do.

> You don't there is enough mud to go around?

I think there is only mud, not based on any real issue with what Stallman said or did.

> does not automatically follow that it was the wrong thing to do.

It does.

FSF main goal was freedom and protecting fundamental liberties of each individual

Stallman main contribution to FSF was the GPL, a legal framework, FSF main contribution was pro bono legal support defending free software in court.

So, yeah, if FSF cannot defend its founder, most popular and most honorable member, it becomes basically useless, it follows it was the wrong thing to do.

Their reputation was based on trust, trust has been broken.