STOP USING MOZILLA - Promotes anti-gay CEO

[Agschmid]

Last edited Tue Apr 1, 2014, 08:48 AM - Edit history (1)

This week, the Mozilla Foundation, advocates of the “open web” and makers of the Firefox browser, found itself in hot water over the appointment of its CEO.

After the foundation announced the internal promotion of Brendan Eich as chief executive, the issue of Eich’s $1,000 donation to Prop. 8, the 2008 anti-gay marriage initiative, was resurrected. As the Los Angeles Times reported, the donation became an issue in 2012 but Eich and Mozilla, which is based in Mountain View, weathered the Twitter-storm over the donation.

Now, it’s a little harder with Eich, the creator of JavaScript, in the top job. Some Mozilla employees and developer groups have called for his resignation, as Ars Technica reported.

Eich, who has been the organization’s chief technology officer since 2005, acknowledged people’s concerns about his commitment to equality. On his personal blog, he spelled out the organization’s goals to be inclusive, asking for time to prove himself:

http://www.siliconbeat.com/2014/03/28/mozilla-in-twitter-storm-over-new-ceos-support-of-californias-anti-gay-marriage-measure/

[Codeine]

1. Everyone already stopped using Mozilla.

I haven't seen anyone open a Firefox browser window in approximately forever.

[TexasProgresive]

2. Perhaps you don't know where to look. n/t

[Codeine]

3. Around here it's all Chrome and Safari.

I even use Chrome on my Apple products.

I suppose some folks hold on, just like the few people who still fire up Explorer when it's time to go online. Browser Luddites?

[TexasTowelie]

7. See post #4 below.

I've found a few reasons to keep IE since certain Websites that I have markup language found only in IE and certain hyperlinks won't work otherwise. I know plenty of other people that also use Firefox.

[chillfactor]

36. I have a Linux OS...

and I use Firefox..would not have it any other way

[Agschmid]

6. Weirdest thing my company just switched to Mozilla...

So odd...

[Kelvin Mace]

54. Depending on whose stats you go with

Firefox is roughly 20% of the market, and this is considered an undercount since FF uses add ons that block browser ID requests by web sites.

[TexasTowelie]

4. Dang, I like Firefox.

I keep Internet Explorer on my PC is because some functionality is lost when clicking on certain hyperlinks on Web pages and because it has some Web connectivity and diagnostic software not available with Firefox. The ad-blocker on Firefox has also saved a few days worth of my life watching video commercials.

I tried Google Chrome, but wasn't thrilled with Google capturing all of my information so I try to use products from multiple companies to avoid some of those issues.

It's unfortunate that Mozilla has named an anti-gay CEO, but there comes a time when I have to stop boycotting and protesting every offense made towards one group or another. Since I don't pay for Mozilla, I doubt that using their browser will have any effect unless many others join in a boycott also.

I'm downloading Opera to see whether it will fit my needs.

[Prophet 451]

8. My situation entirely

He asks for time to prove he's changed, I'll give him six months.

Let me know how you find Opera. I last tried it a few years ago and wasn't impressed.

[TexasTowelie]

24. The one thing I thought I would like is that the Opera browser allowed users to set up either

tiled or cascading tabs on the screen would ease having to toggle between tabs when cutting and pasting. However, after playing with it for awhile I searched and found out that utility was eliminated in version 15 and they are now on version 20. Otherwise, it isn't much different than Google Chrome. I'll be uninstalling Opera later tonight.

[TexasTowelie]

26. I did not notice until now, but I can't open Internet Explorer since I added Opera.

I guess there could be a conflict having IE, Firefox and Opera on my machine. Since there are some tasks that I can only do on IE, I'm moving the uninstall up a bit.

[IDemo]

5. Downloaded Opera yesterday

But I'm totally flummoxed with it. The 'More tools/bookmark importer' option is grayed out. There seems to be just a single menu drop-down to include all functions and settings. And I guess I'm old fashioned, but I don't really like the toolbar-less look of Opera and Chrome (and lately, IE).

[Agschmid]

11. I love safari...

But if you are not on a Mac I'm not
Sure you can use it?

[IDemo]

12. Windows/Linux Mint dual boot

It looks like Apple withdrew support for the Windows version of Safari, seems like it might have been a good option.

[TexasTowelie]

25. See post #24.

[human_1]

9. boycott is the right thing

what a fucking fuckbag

[Agschmid]

10. Yup, well said.

[bigwillq]

20. Hello

Welcome to DU!

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. 3 board members have quit, employees want him to be sacked.

so there is hope.

but..until then...we gotta let Mozilla know we are unhappy.

[Initech]

14. This is true!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113736759

[pothos]

15. firefox is such a heap anyway

what version are they on now? 45 or something? worst memory hog browser i've ever used. worthless since version 3.5.

[Codeine]

16. I remember my laptop kept bogging down.

I'd open Task Manager and discover that Firefox was using 99% of my processor and all the memory out of nowhere. Before that I was a huge fan, but if it's going to periodically cripple my computer then it's got to go.

[GoCubsGo]

18. A lot of that is the goddamn JavaScript.

That, and Adobe Flash. I can't believe people are getting filthy rich off of that shit.

[Silent3]

37. Are you complaining about JavaScript in general, or Firefox's implementation?

It's damn near impossible to get away from JavaScript these days for almost any website viewed with almost any browser.

[GoCubsGo]

50. Both.

But, it doesn't play well with Firefox, especially. I have been to several sites that have various applications, such as coupon printers, and they suggest using other broswers, because their apps work better elsewhere than in Firefox.

[hobbit709]

42. Then you had something else going on. I've never seen FF eat up cpu cycles.

Some kind of adware/spyware plugin if not actual malware.
you'd be surprised at the crap I've had to clean out of people's computers. all those free "helper" applications and toolbars.

[GoCubsGo]

53. Anti-virus software is a big resource hog, as well.

My old desktop, which doesn't have a whole lot of CPU and other resources gets bogged down regularly. Firefox and the plug-ins use up a lot, but the rest is is my anti-virus. I use the AVG free edition, but I have had the same problems with other anti-virus software.

[GoCubsGo]

17. He's doubly disgusting.

Being a homophobe is bad enough, but JavaScript is a pox on all things Internet. I really don't like Google Chrome, but it looks like I'm going to have to hold my nose and switch to it. I hate to get rid of Thunderbird, too. Anybody know of a good e-mail client?

[TBF]

19. For folks who are technically savvy -

I am on a Dell and use Firefox. It has worked pretty well and I'm not a fan of Internet Explorer. What would be your recommendation for me to use?

[TexasTowelie]

27. Don't try Opera.

I added it with the intention of using it instead of Firefox, but now I can't open Internet Explorer which I need for several tasks. I think that I experienced the same problem when I chose Google Chrome over Firefox a couple of years ago.

[TBF]

46. I'm hoping they fire that CEO -

it sounds like the employees don't want him there either.

[Kurska]

47. Chrome is probably the most user friendly.

I like it is what I use.

[pintobean]

21. How does Mozilla make money from people

using a free browser?

[jberryhill]

28. Default search setting to Google

You might as well ask how do Google and Microsoft make money giving away free browsers, since you can download and install theirs for free too.

The money is in paid search advertising - the "sponsored links" you see alongside other search results at Google, Bing and Yahoo (does Yahoo still have search?)

The default settings in IE take you to a Bing search. Some of the clicks from those searches will be on paid ads.

So, there is tremendous value to Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo, if you can put a piece of software on someone's computer which, by default, is going to drive search traffic, and thus ad revenue, to whomever gets to be the default search function.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9244250/Mozilla_banked_274M_in_12_from_Google_Firefox_search_deal

Payments from Google in 2012 were approximately $274 million, an increase of 99% over 2011's $138 million.

That number comes close to matching the $300 million annually due Mozilla under a 2011 contract between it and Google that had set a minimum of just under $1 billion over the deal's three-year run. Google promised to pay Mozilla that amount to keep its search engine as the default in Firefox. 2012 was the first full year under the new contract.

[Tree-Hugger]

22. I'm reading this on Firefox

I am very tech stupid. Reading some of these comments, it looks like Firefox might be the reason I have so much lag when using the internet. I get tons of "script errors." I have zero clue about other browsers.

[joeybee12]

23. Time to prove himself? Reminds me of the CEO of Chick-Fail...

He just wants time to keep his mouth shut and people might forget what an ass he is.

[Bluenorthwest]

49. Mozilla is the Chick Fil A of the internets.....

The Duck Dynasty of the world wide webfoot.

[jberryhill]

29. So, you were cool with him being CTO there for years previous?

It's not as if he was "hired" as your subject line suggests.

He's been the CTO there for a long time.

[OriginalGeek]

31. Does everyone have to know everything about every goddamnbody?

Can't a person just be allowed to find out something new and act according to the new information? I've been using Firefox for years and I never heard of the guy. No I'm not "cool" with him having been CTO NOW THAT I KNOW IT.

Jesus fucking christ.

[jberryhill]

33. My comment was more directed to the use of the word "hires"

They "hired" him years ago. While he was moved from CTO to CEO recently, your use of the word "hires" is inaccurate, regardless of whatever may have been the state of your prior belief.

I hardly believe that this observation should merit sexual congress by a religious figure from some two millenia ago, but okay.

What seems unanswered in anything I've read about this guy is what is his present state of belief on this question. I don't know if that's a question of coverage or well-crafted avoidance of what would seem to be the most relevant question here.

In other words, okay, you didn't previously know what his beliefs in 2008 were. Does anyone know what his beliefs now are?

[OriginalGeek]

35. I'm not the OP

It just isn't cool to call a guy out for finding out something new. Nobody with a normal life of shit to do has time to research the political beliefs of every chief officer or board member of every company that makes everything they ever use.

Stop trying to act like you didn't make an asshole post to Agschmid.

You could just as easily have said, "When did he say bad things about gay people and what does he say now?"

[jberryhill]

39. You seem angry about something

I hope you find a constructive way to deal with that anger.

[OriginalGeek]

40. I did!

Thanks for caring.

[MNBrewer]

45. How long does it really take?

to say, "yes, I donated to Prop 8 in 2008 because I believed that gay people should not have the ability to be legally married. I have changed my mind and now fully support marriage equality under the law."

In the absence of any such statement, I'll go with his proven track record of bigotry.

I don't so much care how he treats his Mozilla employees as a matter of company policy, if he's still helping to impede the equality of everyone else to have equality under the law.

[Agschmid]

48. Fixed it.

Thanks.

[Nye Bevan]

30. They're not getting another penny from me (nt)

[chillfactor]

34. sorry I like Firefox....

best browser around

[Cha]

38. I don't use it.. thanks for the info, Agschmid

[justiceischeap]

41. Can't not use Firefox

I'm a front-end web developer. So, FF stays on my computers. However, my day to day browser is Chrome.

[AngryAmish]

43. Everyone should switch to ArchMage, now.

I have been using it for months. Very light touch on the cpu, zero tracking (it is impossible, built into the code) and supports lgbt community completely. And it's free.

[Shankapotomus]

44. Back to safari

Google is pretty much evil now too for the strangle hold they are exerting on YouTube. You can't make comments there now without having a Google Plus profile. I'm trying to avoid using any of their products, chrome included.

[IDemo]

55. Safari - fine if you're using Apple; Windows, not so much

Apple No Longer Updating Safari for Windows, Users Should Switch To A More Secure Browser

The Apple-developed Safari is one of the least popular webkit-based browsers on Windows. Even so, it still commands 5% marketshare (across all platforms), and that is a problem. You see, many sites are reporting that Apple has dropped support for Safari on Windows. Windows users will not get the update to Safari 6–the new version available to Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7 Mountain Lion users. As well, it seems that Apple has removed just about every reference to ever having a Windows version of any Safari browser from its website.

The issue is that the final version that Windows users are stuck with–version 5.1.7–has a number of documented security vulnerabilities that are never going to get patched by Apple. According to Maximum PC, there are at least 121 known security holes listed in Apple’s own documentation. And as time goes by, it is extremely likely that the number of unpatched security holes will increase. Running an outdated browser is not good security practice, and running a browser that is EOL and has known vulnerabilities is just asking for trouble.

http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Apple-No-Longer-Updating-Safari-Windows-Users-Should-Switch-More-Secure-Browser

[antiquie]

51. What's an alternative free mail program?

I use Mozilla's Thunderbird. Any suggestions?

[BarbaRosa]

52. A friend turned me on to Pale Moon,

a firefox based browser. It seems to work OK.

http://www.palemoon.org/

[Agschmid]

56. UPDATE: CEO steps down!

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/04/03/3422750/mozilla-ceo-steps-down-after-backlash/