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Ubuntu Christian Edition

2 points by jjar 10y ago

coreyp_1 10y ago
To be honest, I rolled my eyes at this. In thinking about it a bit deeper, I can see the value of pre-installed and configured filtering protocols for use in Christian schools and other environments (giving your kids a computer in their own room, for example) where computers are supplied but not necessarily actively monitored (having someone looking over your shoulder all the time). This, combined with the power, flexibility, and security of Linux, actually does sound like a good idea.
- celticninja 10y ago
  I am still rolling my eyes. So does this block access to anything on evolution, gay marriage etc? How would you feel about to Islamic version that blocks access to anything on women's rights? This sort of stuff is bullshit best not given the air of publicity.
  - coreyp_1 10y ago
    Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn't. The example given is one of pornography, so that's what I based my answer on. I am not a parent, but when I do become one, I will put fences up to protect my child from things that will harm him, until he is old enough to defend himself (i.e., use his brain rationally). I can see this as a tool to that end. Would I use it for myself? No, because I don't need it. It's the same reason that I don't use training wheels when I ride my bicycle. You seem to have made a huge jump in a direction based on your personal prejudices. I'm merely pointing out that this is a good tool for a specific use case. What's the problem with that?
    - celticninja 10y ago
      There are other solutions that don't have to push a religious aspect. Would you use this solution or find another filtering solution?
      - coreyp_1 10y ago
        It's OK for there to be solutions that don't push a religious aspect, and it's OK for there to be solutions that do. I worked for a mobile phone company (as a programmer) that built a custom service profile for Orthodox Jews in Israel that specifically restricted incoming and outgoing calls on the Sabbath (sundown to sundown, depending on their location). I am not Jewish, neither do I have any problem using my phone any time that I want, but for these people it was an important part of their lifestyle, and they sought us out as a means to address it. They weren't worried about it being associated with their religion. Quite to the contrary, that's precisely what they wanted! So what's wrong with a christian wanting a version of Ubuntu that supports common tenets of christian beliefs? Nobody is forcing it on anyone else... it's entirely voluntary! All that I'm trying to say is to stop being so judgmental. What if these people have a good motive? Is that wrong, just because it does not line up with your biases? As for me, I would probably not use it personally, simply because I like to do things myself, and if I were needing to set up such a system for my child I would probably roll my own, just for fun. If I were asked to set up such a system for someone else, though, I might consider using it if it is in line with their desires, simply because it would reduce maintenance work for me.
  - qbrass 10y ago
    https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DerivativeTeam/Derivatives/Sabily https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DerivativeTeam/Derivatives/Sabily "Sabily is a set of packages that customizes the Ubuntu distro by installing Islamic software (prayer times, Quran study tool, web content filtering tool etc.) and by changing its design."

2 points by jjar 10y ago

To be honest, I rolled my eyes at this. In thinking about it a bit deeper, I can see the value of pre-installed and configured filtering protocols for use in Christian schools and other environments (giving your kids a computer in their own room, for example) where computers are supplied but not necessarily actively monitored (having someone looking over your shoulder all the time). This, combined with the power, flexibility, and security of Linux, actually does sound like a good idea.

celticninja 10y ago
I am still rolling my eyes. So does this block access to anything on evolution, gay marriage etc? How would you feel about to Islamic version that blocks access to anything on women's rights? This sort of stuff is bullshit best not given the air of publicity.
- coreyp_1 10y ago
  Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn't. The example given is one of pornography, so that's what I based my answer on. I am not a parent, but when I do become one, I will put fences up to protect my child from things that will harm him, until he is old enough to defend himself (i.e., use his brain rationally). I can see this as a tool to that end. Would I use it for myself? No, because I don't need it. It's the same reason that I don't use training wheels when I ride my bicycle. You seem to have made a huge jump in a direction based on your personal prejudices. I'm merely pointing out that this is a good tool for a specific use case. What's the problem with that?
  - celticninja 10y ago
    There are other solutions that don't have to push a religious aspect. Would you use this solution or find another filtering solution?
    - coreyp_1 10y ago
      It's OK for there to be solutions that don't push a religious aspect, and it's OK for there to be solutions that do. I worked for a mobile phone company (as a programmer) that built a custom service profile for Orthodox Jews in Israel that specifically restricted incoming and outgoing calls on the Sabbath (sundown to sundown, depending on their location). I am not Jewish, neither do I have any problem using my phone any time that I want, but for these people it was an important part of their lifestyle, and they sought us out as a means to address it. They weren't worried about it being associated with their religion. Quite to the contrary, that's precisely what they wanted! So what's wrong with a christian wanting a version of Ubuntu that supports common tenets of christian beliefs? Nobody is forcing it on anyone else... it's entirely voluntary! All that I'm trying to say is to stop being so judgmental. What if these people have a good motive? Is that wrong, just because it does not line up with your biases? As for me, I would probably not use it personally, simply because I like to do things myself, and if I were needing to set up such a system for my child I would probably roll my own, just for fun. If I were asked to set up such a system for someone else, though, I might consider using it if it is in line with their desires, simply because it would reduce maintenance work for me.
- qbrass 10y ago
  https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DerivativeTeam/Derivatives/Sabily https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DerivativeTeam/Derivatives/Sabily "Sabily is a set of packages that customizes the Ubuntu distro by installing Islamic software (prayer times, Quran study tool, web content filtering tool etc.) and by changing its design."