On 24 Oct 1998, Harry Putnam wrote:
> Manfred Bartz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
>
> > Distributions: Frankly, I don't understand why people keep saying ``I
> > am running "HatWearIan" Linux ....'' as if the distribution really
> > mattered. Linux is Linux and the official policy of all distributions
> > is to keep the highest degree of compatibility and avoid splitting the
> > Linux community. In cases where the distribution really matters, the
> > question should be directed to the distribution specific support
> > channels. I personally delete most messages that refer to a
> > particular distribution without reading them.
>
> Maybe Manfred is joking here, I hope so. If there was such tight
> unity and fear of splitting etc. their would not be different
> distributions. And they are different enough so that it matters and
> may effect the answers.
I am sorry you don't support the position stated by Manfred, and
accuse him of joking.
A lot of people have put a lot of effort, ability and time into
creating Linux. They have made fools of themselves if Linux is
going to fracture into a myriad of incompatible operating systems.
They didn't do it for that. They won't continue to do it for that.
Those who encourage internecine rivalry and dispute within the Linux
camp are enemies of Linux, masquerading as friends. You, Harry, are
a little too pleased with yourself in seeking to magnify regrettable
differences.
> Of course it makes sense to announce what you are running when asking
> questions. In fact, most posts don't have enough of that kind of
> info.
It makes no sense to post that you have a problem with Slackware
this or RehHat that, and 99% of the time it is irrelevant which
distribution it is. As Manfred tried to explain to you, it causes
people who could help to ignore your message. It hinders far more
than it helps.
It is true that there are some regrettable differences, one relevant
to this thread. Annoyingly, the default Slackware installation is
for a CMOS clock set to local time. This is unpardonable, in my
view.
However, it makes no sense to post that you have a time zone problem
with Slackware, that Slackware has not adjusted for Summer time.
Your problem is that your Linux system has not adjusted, and the
same misconfiguration and the same remedy should apply to all
distributions. Others needing help with the generic problem will be
better served if it is not hidden irrelevantly in a distribution-
specific thread.
> Especially people who may have only a little experience, may not know
> what is specific to this or that distribution.
This makes no sense. You are contradicting yourself. That is a
reason why they should _not_ post regarding a distribution.
If they have only a little experience, they should be encouraged to
understand that the name of the OS is Linux, not something else.
They should not be encouraged to unwittingly deny themselves access
to the assistance of Linux users who ignore distribution-specific
posts. They should not be caused to miss a discussion of their
exact problem because it has been taken up in the context of some
irrelevant distribution.
If the problem is indeed distribution-specific it is something like
PAM or glibc-2 and can be dealt with as such, and not as though the
distribution was the source of it. If it relates to an RPM there is
little need to blather about the distribution. If it relates to
some file that is peculiar to one distribution it will be answerable
by users of that distribution. If it is a config file that is
common to several distributions it is used in a standard way by them
all.
> One of the joys of newsgroups and mail lists is that you can filter,
> delete or other wise manipulate posts you don't like for whatever
> reason and can give unsolicited advice even if it is poor advice.
What happened to your recent concern for "people who may only have a
little experience"? You now require them to install mail filters,
and find it a joy to give them poor advice.
> Harry Putnam [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Running Redhat Linux-5.1
--Mike
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