On Thursday 27 February 2003 21:06, Collins wrote:
> On Thursday 27 February 2003 08:27 am, Ernie Schroder wrote:
> > On Thursday 27 February 2003 02:53, Counter Fraud-Group \(Malcolm
> >
> > Gardner\) wrote:
> > > I hope none of you suffer the loss of a child. It fills you with
> > > unimaginable levels of grief and leaves you confused and
> > > disorientated. Those of you offered support and help, again I
> > > thank you.
> > > Malcolm
> >
> > Malcolm,
>
> [ snips ]
>
> > I do understand your loss,
> >
> > I read your orriginal post and was moved by it, but I too am a
> > cynic.
> >
> > You must understand that we as Linux users are used to less than
> > honest tactics initiated by certain other OS companies and groups
> > sympathetic to them, that are designed to undermine faith in the
> > security of the Linux OS. The fact that you own a company who's
> > business seems to be computer security does raise flags.
> >
> > Forgive the geeks, they know not what they say.
>
> I've heard this tired old addage about massive hordes having it in
> for linux ever since I've been corresponding on linux groups, and
> I've yet to ever experience anything but paranoia. The "other OS
> company" that has it in for linux takes a much more direct route.
>
> One of my first experiences on the Caldera users group (the original
> form of linux-users) was a vicious attack because I dared to post a
> question that exposed my ignorance of PC hardware. At the time, I
> really didn't understand the difference between a PCI card and an ISA
> card, and I confused the terms in my plea for help with my modem.
> Out came even more vitriol than in this case. After I let the author
> of the vitriol know (off list) just what I though of his opinions,
> things improved.
>
> Ernie, I have a great deal of respect for you otherwise, but if your
> cinicism leads you to impute impure motives to someone who is just
> asking for help, I can only honestly say, that sucks!
>
> I'll not belabor the point any further, but I believe that we should
> help first and be suspicious later.
Collins,
The respect is mutual. And yes suspicion of impure motives does suck.
My life's experience has taught me that a certain degree of cinicism is
a healthy thing. I can't help it if you disagree and if so I guess I
admire you for that, but the fact remains that I have been burned by
the most sincere sounding pleas and 53 year of life have taught me that
not all folks are quite as pure as I would have them be.
My comments came after Malcolm was advised how to recover his son's
data and were meant as an explaination of the reaction some of us had
to his request.
The primary reason for my reply was to offer sympathy and a bit of
experience from one father to another.
As far as the paranoia, yes, you are correct. For the most part,
Microsoft does come at Linux directly and overtly, but, they do employ
people, or "sponsor" in their words, "studies" that tend to find
security flaws in various Linux apps, in an attempt to make it look
like closed source is better.
I don't want to play games any more Collins, it's late, Malcolm has
his son's data, and you and I have gotten to voice our opinions. For
what more can a man ask?
--
Regards, Ernie
100% Microsoft and Intel free
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