That'd be it. There was an entire dimension going on there I was unaware of the ranked choice. I was thinking FPTP. Thank you for the reference.

So there is no general 'nay' vote on a proposal except to vote it at a lower rank than the default option? I think I get it now.

I'm actually kind of glad most people don't want to make any statement at all. It isn't really something tht should matter. Beyond my vocal opposition to lending any credibility to the original smear with regards to RMS, I'm kind of in the camp we should all just move on. Most of FSF's insiders that have a problem with him have more than enough points actually relevant to his missing opportunities to make a worthwhile push at ousting him without relying on controversy and lies, but they'd also have to defend it from an equal playing field then. LLVM, GPL issues, etc... Though even looking into the LLVM controversy, I can still see the wisdom in not accepting it and keeping GCC monolithic after having come across a few oldtimers who were there back when proprietary everything was the norm.

If someone is to be dismissed, let it be on technical merits. Not some tabloid smear.