From: Jim Cain <list@...>
Date: 2003-07-10T02:09:05+09:00
Subject: Re: My brief and torrid affair with Ruby.

Rasputin wrote:
> * Jim Cain <list@jimcain.us> [0740 15:40]:
> 
>>Rasputin wrote:
>>
>>>* Daniel Carrera <dcarrera@math.umd.edu> [0714 03:14]:
> 
> 
>>>>>You are, of course, free to decline my offer. That is hardly a virus.
>>>>
>>>>Exactly.  The GPL does not *impose* anything.  It sets a condition upon 
>>>>the use a pice of software.  You have two choices:  comply with the 
>>>>conditions, or don't use it.  There is nothing viral about that.
> 
> 
>>>The term 'viral' refers to the fact that if you want to use GPLed code, 
>>>your code must become GPL. So it spreads. 
> 
>  
> 
>>They say good news travels fast, but good news is not a virus.
> 
> 
> Yeah, but if I hear good news, I can *choose* to pass it on.

Right, and if you come across a GPLed library, you can *choose* whether 
to use it.