Hot, charming people get away with things that ugly awkward people don't. However, the lesson to be drawn from this isn't that it's ok to do those things. Rather, it's that life is unfair.

except that Stallman was let off for years ... I think people often just let him off because he wasn't "Hot, charming" and they maybe felt a certain amount of pity for him ...

> the lesson to be drawn from this isn't that it's ok to do those things

if it's OK for the charming, suave guy to do it, then the issue exists at the "victim", not the "perpetrator".

Rule of law is meant to make life more fair, and this isn't a lesson, but it is something for society to improve on.

>if it's OK for the charming, suave guy to do it,

I was saying that it isn't ok for the charming, suave guy to do it either.

Then he wouldn't be seen as an awkward guy who doesn't know any better but instead as an arrogant dick.

Exactly. The conversation should be framed around what he did (or didn't) do, rather than how others felt around him.

Yesn't IMO. When discussing RMS as a person I agree but in the context of the presidency of the FSF (which is more or less the "face of free software") we should certainly take into account what kind of energy he radiates.

Is this a joke? This is disgusting.

There is study after study after study concluding that pretty people on average have it easier in life, are treated better, have it easier to achieve successful careers, have it easier to find sexual partners, get away with more things, etc...