On Mon, Apr 13, 2020 at 06:09:59PM +0100, Brian wrote:
> > > On the contrary, it is different and requires a modern Web browser (how
> > > does the non-GUI user participate since it is noted that an email user
> > > is a distant second-class user?) but as he notes it is a centralized
> > > database that facilitates an amount of control that is lacking with
> > > email lists. I think that the key to the discussion is that some people
> > > seek greater control over discussions.
> >
> > Moreover, it brings two interesting aspects of the problem:
> >
> > 1) By its design the Discourse relies on _javascript_ executing in user's
> > browser. While Discourse itself may be the free software, such usage of
> > Discourse violates Software Freedom 1 ("change it so it does your
> > computing as you wish").
>
> I understand the concern with _javascript_. I have read what there is of
> Discourse using Lynx. Am I missing out an anything?
Wow. Just wow. Thank you for the idea.
I confirm that it's enough to use any text-based browser (be it lynx,
links or w3m) to read, say, discourse.mozilla.org.
Cannot comment if it's possible to participate there with these fine
browsers (the answers is probably "no"), but it's a start.
Okay. I have a Text only Server (due to a Mouse issue with our Kindred Distro, Devuan), and so put this to the test.
First, w3m apparently doesn't do Redirects, instead, giving the short page, *describing* the Redirect to come. (I remember these from using wget).
However, I got a good page, using lynx. (Hard to read, as I'm sure the Pictures describe a lot of what Discourse is trying to do). And it was amusing to see the bottom of the page, with the message: "Powered by Discourse, best viewed with _javascript_ enabled".
So, at least with Lynx, the page will load without _javascript_.
On a Laptop of mine, I have an old version of Firefox, with the "NoScript" add-on. I wonder how it would work there. If I find out anything good, I'll check back in.
Thank you!
Kenneth Parker
Reco