I'm missing the community that was available when using nonfree software

17 replies [Last post]
Trisk Spellian
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Joined: 03/20/2015

I've been running Trisquel for a few weeks now. I love it! I run Icecat in private viewing mode 100% of the time.

A lot of websites aren't functional without nonfree js or cookies enabled.

I think what I miss more than anything are the sites that allow me to communicate with others.

I gave up facebook a long time ago. Don't miss it one bit. I do miss reddit, though. I can still browse, thank God, but I cannot no longer private message others or comment on posts, or create posts.

There are also some forums I used to belong to that now won't allow me to access the site because I'm on Tor.

=(::::

I feel I've done an excellent job at finding free alternatives to most of the things I need or want online. The ones I haven't found an alternative to, I simply give up and go without.

I really wish there were a Gnu friendly reddit. A Tor friendly IRC (and I don't mean a backdoor roundabout method to Freenode) more forums that were for Gnu users by Gnu users, but were about different topics, instead of just Gnu.

Where do all of you "hang out" online? Right now this forum is the only community I can still talk to people because it doesn't exclude Tor or require nonfree js or cookies.

Help!

Lonely Gnu

pizzaiolo
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Joined: 03/12/2015

I recommend you try out Diaspora (Facebook/Tumblr replacement) or GNUsocial (Twitter replacement).

Of the two, Diaspora has been very good for me to find like-minded people. Usually privacy-conscious, free software activists and other types of activists as well. The secret to a good Diaspora experience is following the largest amount of tags you can!

tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

"cookies enabled."
you can use cookies with libre software
i assume you do this for privacy reasons though as-well as freedom reasons
but you could just make your browser delete cookies when you logout

"Where do all of you "hang out" online?"
here:
https://trisquel.info/en/forum
and here:
http://gbdev.gg8.se/forums/

Garsmith
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Joined: 07/27/2013

For cookie their is two extensions for Firefox based browsers
BetterPrivacy
Self-Destructing Cookies

BetterPrivacy removes LSO "cookies" and Self-Destructing Cookies removes cookies when a tab is closed. For me its perfect. I can use cookies but settings and identification information is removed. BetterPrivacy is proprietary...

pizzaiolo
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Joined: 03/12/2015

You can find some free alternatives to BetterPrivacy here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_shared_object#Editors_and_toolkits

I haven't tried it, but Click&Clean seems to be an apt replacement for it.

PS: Do I need to worry about LSOs when I run Gnash?

Legimet
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Joined: 12/10/2013

If you go to the Gnash preferences, you can go to the security tab and disable LSO's.

pizzaiolo
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Joined: 03/12/2015

Sorry, can you explain to me like I'm five years old? I can't find Gnash's configs, much less change them.

onpon4
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Joined: 05/30/2012

Gnash's preferences have to be accessed from a menu you get to by clicking on a running instance. I haven't the slightest idea why you can't also get to the preferences window from the add-ons window, but that's how it is.

tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

if better privacy is non-free and you cant see the source code there no guarantee its private or secure

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

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Joined: 10/31/2014

What do you need a proprietary addon for especially given the fact that it is completely useless on Trisquel as there is no flash player?
LSOs are the supercookies used by the giant spyware that goes under the name of adobe flash player.

Dave_Hunt

I am a member!

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Joined: 09/19/2011

I just started using gnusocial, and am finding it hard to fit in; it seems I'm mostly talking to myself:). I must say, getting into the twitter and facebook streams is far easier, based on my experience. Still giving gnusocial a chance.
Follow me on http://social.2mb.solutions/DaveHunt

JadedCtrl
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Joined: 08/11/2014

Perhaps I'm the odd one out, but I allow non-free JS to run in my browser.
And Free JS's (FSF Campaign) current goal is to get reddit to use only free JS, so you should message reddit staff to help out.

Legimet
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Joined: 12/10/2013

So do I, because unfortunately the vast majority of the web is broken without nonfree JS :(

tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

what websites you use that need js?

Dave_Hunt

I am a member!

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Joined: 09/19/2011

You are not the odd one out. I use noscript, and have white-listed a few sites with probably-non-free scripts.

lembas
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Joined: 05/13/2010

Cookies really are but the tip of the iceberg in identifying a user. For what it's worth I block all 3rd party cookies and selectively allow cookies when I know they're needed (e.g. to remember my login).

Some other ID methods are listed here https://panopticlick.eff.org/

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

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Joined: 10/31/2014

The only website I allow javascript is diaspora. very funny and entertaining website. I use IRC and see no problem in using it. Use a VPN. You don't need Tor to have privacy. A VPN is enough for that.

mprodrigues
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Joined: 05/03/2014

I liked more than gnu social http://twister.net.co/