Email can be a very bad place to have these kinds of conversations because of the lack of the personal touch. What would be a lively discussion over some coffee comes across badly in the electronic world. Let's keep that in mind while talking about these kinds of issues.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Baudouin, Andrew" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 8:44 AM Subject: RE: [brlug-general] [Paul Ferris: RANT_MODE=1] This Christmas, gi ve the gift that doesn't keep on taking ... >> 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 > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > [email protected] > http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net > >
