> You should be ashamed but never for what other people do. You have posted > on a Linux Users Group to: > called people names because they don't know how to fix Windows. This > basically insults everyone here.
I never specifically called anyone a name for not knowing how to fix Windows. I said that "refusing to fix a family member's pc or offer support" because they run Windows is "virulent fanaticism". It's calling the "act" names, not the "actor". > told everyone they should spend Christmas doing Microsoft tech support > instead of having a nice time with their family. > advocate everyone here be a Windows expert and that this is the best way to promote free software. > "educate" everyone to buy the latest and greatest Microsoft junk. > ignorantly insult free software as impossible to use and not for newbies. > do all of the above repeatedly, despite numerous factual corrections. I said that "refusing to offer help to a family member" is not in the spirit of Christmas. I reject the notion that you must be a Windows Expert to fix spyware-laden PCS and install updates. You must simply have experience using any kind of computer, a willingness to search the web for answers, and a humble and giving spirit that wants to help others. I tell those family members who would never be able to use Linux that they should buy such and such product to keep themselves secure in a Windows environment. I would love to meet up with you face to face and to let you challenge my ignorance of any Linux or Windows environment. Why can't you or anyone else understand that any editing of config files (lets be honest, the GUI frontends and automated scripts simply don't work) is way over the average 70 year old grandma's head? The "factual corrections" (GUI Frontends that supposedly make Linux so easy to use) by John and others were refuted because they crash and don't work all of the time. I was answered with "stop whining, get to coding". Are you going to tell your grandmother to start submitting patches? Let's get real! My grandmother in particular is frightened to death of computers and hasn't even used them to type a letter since First Choice running under Dos 3. > You might as well have told a group of mechanics who build custom electric > cars that their mom's should all drive Yugos and that they should spend > their Christmas dropping a big ugly engine. This whole letter is virulent fanaticism. I never told you or anyone that they should spend their Christmas doing anything. If your family member needs help, you should help her especially if you have experience with computers. > The purpose of the BRLUG is: > "The Baton Rouge Linux User Group's (BRLUG) mission is to advocate the use > of Linux both in the home and the enterprise, to support the existing base > of Linux users in the city of Baton Rouge, and to have a great time." > While it looks like many of the members had fun correcting you, I have to > wonder what you were trying to achieve by doing all of the above. It > looks like you are advocating Microsoft usage. Granted. I was replying to the original posters statement that he would not support a family member because they used Windows. I am not advocating that any of you use Windows, or that even I use Windows, because I DON'T. I am trying to get everyone here to understand that Linux is simply not for everyone. Any "facts" (believe me, they aren't facts) that attempt to advocate such and such a distro with such and such easy GUI frontends don't usually work. > If you think that "fanboys" and "zealots" are hurting the free software > cause, do you think that your recommendations will help? Do you really > > think I'm going to drive free software use by telling people things that I > know are not true such as that it's impossible to use, insecure and that > > they are better off with a Mac or Microsoft? Will my spending all of my > > free time and money keeping up with the latest Microsoft tricks help free > software? I can't imagine myself telling my mom that she needs to go out > and spend a few hundred dollars on new versions of Microsoft software. This paragraph is the only one that anyone's posted that actually holds water. Admittedly, my posts have not done anything to further the cause of free software. My personal computing mission is not to advocate and further the cause of Free Software (TM); rather, it is twofold: to keep up with advancements in computing technology on both sides of the spectrum to keep myself competitive in the job market, and to use all existing knowledge I have to help others use any platform they wish to use and support them using that. ______________________________________________ General mailing list [email protected] http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net
