--- Jacob Meuser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > It's not about purity in the abstract, it's about whether you spread > > the confusion that hampers our work, or help correct it. > > I agree with that 100%. Influential people like Bill G. say the GPL and > the GNU/Linux system is bad. Well, if you like what GNU stands for, > then why not tell people why Bill G. is full of it; why not say GNU > any chance you get?
right now, GNU seems to stand for "we aren't as recognized as Microsoft. let's fix that." without linus, GNU would be nowhere near as hyped and as recognized as it is today. the same may also be said of linux, but linus was just writing a kernel as a pet project. for fun. i honestly don't think he was trying to get the massive recognition he has today. which is what this whole thing boils down to : recognition. (of course, linux could /probably/ be built using a BSD toolset...) nowadays, if someone asks me what Linux is, i explain what the operating system is, what the liscencing entails, and why that is so cool. if someone asked what GNU stands for, i'd say it has a lot to do with some whiny bitches who don't recognize a good thing when they see it. explaining and promoting the GPL is one thing. explaining and promoting a group who aren't getting the recognition they /think/ they deserve is entirely different. RMS is just pissed that he doesn't have a slice of the pie (he'll have other reasons, for sure...) just ignore the fact that he won part of the 2001 Takeda Award... > And if someone gets so confused by three letters and a slash that > they don't listen to you (which seems to be the ONLY reason so far > against it [personally, I like the sound of G-N-U-Linux as compared to > Linux; to me it sounds more professional and powerful, and, of couse, it's > just as many syllables as Open-B-S-D ;]), then do you really think they're > worth your time anyway? you have a point. in retrospect, i suppose it really doesn't matter what it's called. but now, having delved into this a little further, i have no desire to recognize or promote some guy who's trying to inflate his ego. would RMS object if we called it Linux/GNU? i'll bet he would... > Be proud of your (OS's) heritage!! i am. i recognize that without linus, the GNU project would still be floundering about with a half-written, slow-ass kernel that most people wouldn't even consider using. i recognize that without the GNU project, linus would have finished off his project and most likely moved on to other things. and i'd be using a mac. new research project : is it possible to build an entirely non-GNU linux system? ===== Justin Bengtson @euglug=(v+ e- eug++ bsd? gnu++ s++) [EMAIL PROTECTED] "i called some kid 'b' the other day. it's the price you pay for living hip-hop every day of your life." Jerry (from the Point Blank Rangers) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions! http://auctions.yahoo.com
