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  "publishedAt": "2026-06-01T02:15:09.000Z",
  "site": "http://forum.palemoon.org",
  "textContent": "> Here's a thought re the whole idea of open source software, where *everyone* is invited to contribute, participate, and use cooperatively. In the old days, tribalism prevented anything from operating this way. Then a new anti-tribal approach was invented, which enabled a *better kind* of civilization to happen. This invention was a basic tenet of a movement that happened to arise \"as part of\" Christianity, and became the basis of so-called \"western values\". To be clear: this comment is not about religion nor faith nor a higher power. It *is* about the need for this arguably superior form of civilization to be upheld and defended at every opportunity, because it is attacked every minute by those who cling to the old ways. As for PM, I believe it will help to acknowledge that even in the modern era some cultures cannot allow mindsets to exist that are compatible with open source etc, because of how those cultures *are*. In other words, don't be surprised when OSS is always under attack by self-righteous, non-tolerant, tribalist cultures.\n\nYeah, I originally wasn't sure whether to share this paragraph, but your reply here makes it seem relevant.\n\nWhat I was trying to do with the whole \"western values\" thing was refer to a shared cultural milieu and a series of bloody lessons that started with the fall of the Western Roman Empire (which was heavily influenced by Greek philosophy and also helped spread Christianity), was eventually shaped by the Protestant Reformation and all the religious conflict associated with that which taught everyone that people who believe differently need a way to co-exist, and then was finally shaped by two world wars which showed people the danger of similar divisions according to national/ethnic pride. This... way of being and reaction to all these events, whatever you want to call it, definitely started in Europe and is perhaps strongest there, but it definitely isn't confined to that place because, well, people who believe in Christianity all over the world are connected to it in one way, people whose ancestors may have come from Europe are connected in another way, people who immigrate to such countries are connected in yet another way, and even people who just had to learn English, Spanish, French, or another major language from that region for business/practical purposes and then got exposed to the culture are connected in yet another. So you can't really put a pin in it, but it's a thing that exists in a very complicated form, that seemingly can't be given a name without reducing itself or becoming self-contradictory.\n\nThere's definitely a thread running through all this that most people interested in this project likely have some connection to, just by virtue of it being what it is. And the implication wasn't so much intentionally excluding people from cultures that are a little more removed from that experience, but rather saying that in some ways, their values, assumptions, worldviews, and experiences haven't been quite as informed by that entire thread of experience, not that they aren't valuable or anything, but that people who work on this project... _will,_ by contrast, just naturally tend to be influenced by all of that in one way or another, consciously or subconsciously.\n\nI don't know if that really made much sense, but thought it was worth adding this in.\n\n* * *",
  "title": "General Discussion • Re: Pale Moon's PR Problem",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-01T02:15:09.000Z"
}