On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 12:31 am, many eyes noted that Anne Wilson wrote: > On Sunday 14 Sep 2003 1:21 pm, Frank Cote wrote: > > On Sun, 2003-09-14 at 07:14, Anne Wilson wrote: > > > I have noticed that compulsive knee-jerks are a common phenomenon > > > in certain sections of the linux community <g> > > > > I've noticed a lot of knee-jerk reactions elsewhere on this as > > well, but I think a good percentage are people (like me) who fear a > > "slippery slope" kind of situation: > > Time will tell, on that one. > > > today: "We'll only include our partners and only in the install > > etc..." with 9.3 (or 4 or 5): "the download version will include > > random popups and mandatory product activation..." > > > > Personally, I think Mandrake 1) has a right to make some money, > > not just a right, but an imperative, if they are to stay in business > > > keeping it going financially is a GOOD THING (tm) 2) They've always > > tried to do the right (ie: ethical) thing so far (AFAIK) so I have > > high confidence that this move will not corrupt them. > > Exactly. They will do what they must, but they will fight long and > hard to keep to their ideals, if their track record is anything to go > by. > > > I'm basically on a wait-and-see mode. So far, the adverts don't > > affect me at all (I don't sit by the install and I remove the > > screensaver and bookmarks and I change to my own start page). If > > it does get worse, then I'm CERTAIN the backlash will rein Mandrake > > in because I won't be the only one screaming :) Besides, the great > > thing about linux is that there's no vendor lock-in, Mandrake is my > > favorite distro but there's nothing stopping me from switching if I > > have to. > > Wait and see is the only sensible thing to do. I can't believe the > doomsayers are right, but if they are, there are always the other > options... > > Anne
Linux is about choice. Freedom is really only another word for choice. Mandrake has the right to choice, and their ideal might be to make money or otherwise. Every individual has a choice, so stay or go. Whichever you do is right. Whichever way Mandrake decides to go is right. This is not a matter of ads, it is a matter of choice. People threatening Mandrake by vowing to desert are attempting to dictate the choice or remove that choice from Mandrake. Comment on a course of action is fine, but threatening is not the way change is achieved. Ideals are wonderful, but if they lead to death through starvation, or someone that contributes code to leave their computer, walk the street 20 hours a day begging to keep their families and themselves fed they have little time to indulge in any ideals and their choice though still there, is much diminished. Money allows people to be free [have greater choice] and have ideals they can follow. It is terrible, but a fact of life that the poor have less choice and therefore a smaller base upon which to build ideals. Someone only surviving has little time to argue choice or ideals. But then we all reckon we're hard up don't we? There are few of us who realise how really lucky we are to be able to even engage in this discussion. Thanks Mandrake. Charlie. Disclaimer:- I am a freeloader paying only for the media upon which the O/S was written. I would probably have used windows, however, I couldn't afford it. In an attempt to pay my way and in gratitude to Mandrake and Linux, I mention Linux everywhere, and Mandrake in particular, because it is my Linux of preference. In the footer of the front page of every document I write is the following:- This document was created by OpenOffice.org1.1Beta on a machine running Linux Mandrake 9.1. This is Open Source Software created by people dedicated to putting control back into the hands of the user. In the bookstore, when I am able to get to town, I dream at the shelves that contain expensive books, and if someone comes up or is already there looking at books, I strike up a conversation and gently bring Linux into the conversation, talking about the Linux alternatives of the programs that they use in windows. I write letters to local, state and federal government to outline the advantages of Open Source, and Linux in particular with mixed success. I certainly don't pay my way, but with this humble effort thank Mandrake and Linux in particular, I imagine that there are hundreds of thousands like myself. Certainly everyone on this list. -- At Zen centers they say There is a Way to be practiced, And a religious truth to be realized. Tell me, what religious truth is realized? What way is practiced? In your present functioning, what do you lack? What would you fix? Younger newcomers, not understanding this, Immediately believe these mesmerists and Listen to them talk about things that tie people up. - Linji (d. 867) This email is guaranteed to be wholly Linux Mandrake 9.1, Kmail v1.5 and OpenOffice.org1Beta
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