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You didnt meet upon Linux users, I doubt that highly, it seems the comments you got were from people who had a wish to use Linux or perhaps tried it out as a Li

by antocv 13y ago

You didnt meet upon Linux users, I doubt that highly, it seems the comments you got were from people who had a wish to use Linux or perhaps tried it out as a LiveCD/Wubi installation and felt they were on top of the world. Some kind of teenager fanboys. Of all the quite many Linux users I know none would be interested in your, quite funny, article. Its just no on the radar to be interested in such articles if youve been using Linux for more than two-three months. The problem is this fanboism and making choice of OS some kind of life-style choice and then we have flamewars like in Month Pythons Life of Brian when "Peoples Liberation party and "party for Peoples Liberation" fight.

doktrin 13y ago
That's a whole lot of "No True Scottsman". Just because you don't know individuals like this personally doesn't mean they're not part of the community.
nathanb 13y ago
Linux users are no better (or worse) than the average human, in my experience. There will always be those who use it because it's trendy (in certain circles), iconoclastic, or quirky. There will always be those who are incapable of conceiving that reasonable people could differ in preference and will lash out at those whose preference differs from theirs. And there will always be people who see an article on /. or reddit and will go leave an incendiary comment on a weblog after having only read the title. I think this is less of a commentary on Linux users than on Humanity.
crono5788 13y ago
Honestly this kind of denialism ("You didn't meet Linux users, I doubt that highly") gives me the same impression as the people rabidly defending Linux while not even noticing the article is satire. If you really don't feel there is some problem with the Linux community, you probably aren't spending enough time acting as a member. All the Linux users I know personally would react reasonably to this article. Also all the Linux people I know would probably enjoy reading this article since it's funny. With that said I don't feel this is a Linux-specific issue. There are many communities that have problems seeming hostile over seemingly insignificant reasons. As a person who likes to try and help people, it makes me upset to watch almost 100% of questions in programming IRC channels get bogged down in a ridiculous never-ending trail of condescending "Why?" questions. Linux elitism and condescending IRC help and etc. are all the norm for tech people but stuff like this will help turn away new participants as fast as anything else. In other communities I see people getting vitriolic over music genres or art styles. As you mention, there are tons of smart, sensible Linux users, just like there are tons of helpful programmers. But invariably, the angriest or most opinionated people in a community will start posting the most and will end up making their entire scene look a little uglier. Sites like HN that incorporate user moderation are helping. The other thing that helps is simply when more level-headed and polite people put themselves out there to push their semi-neutral agendas. I know I personally have stopped a few "Why are you even THINKING about that!?" trains by simply answering the user's original question when I was able.

by antocv 13y ago

doktrin 13y ago

That's a whole lot of "No True Scottsman". Just because you don't know individuals like this personally doesn't mean they're not part of the community.

nathanb 13y ago

Linux users are no better (or worse) than the average human, in my experience. There will always be those who use it because it's trendy (in certain circles), iconoclastic, or quirky. There will always be those who are incapable of conceiving that reasonable people could differ in preference and will lash out at those whose preference differs from theirs. And there will always be people who see an article on /. or reddit and will go leave an incendiary comment on a weblog after having only read the title. I think this is less of a commentary on Linux users than on Humanity.

crono5788 13y ago

Honestly this kind of denialism ("You didn't meet Linux users, I doubt that highly") gives me the same impression as the people rabidly defending Linux while not even noticing the article is satire. If you really don't feel there is some problem with the Linux community, you probably aren't spending enough time acting as a member. All the Linux users I know personally would react reasonably to this article. Also all the Linux people I know would probably enjoy reading this article since it's funny. With that said I don't feel this is a Linux-specific issue. There are many communities that have problems seeming hostile over seemingly insignificant reasons. As a person who likes to try and help people, it makes me upset to watch almost 100% of questions in programming IRC channels get bogged down in a ridiculous never-ending trail of condescending "Why?" questions. Linux elitism and condescending IRC help and etc. are all the norm for tech people but stuff like this will help turn away new participants as fast as anything else. In other communities I see people getting vitriolic over music genres or art styles. As you mention, there are tons of smart, sensible Linux users, just like there are tons of helpful programmers. But invariably, the angriest or most opinionated people in a community will start posting the most and will end up making their entire scene look a little uglier. Sites like HN that incorporate user moderation are helping. The other thing that helps is simply when more level-headed and polite people put themselves out there to push their semi-neutral agendas. I know I personally have stopped a few "Why are you even THINKING about that!?" trains by simply answering the user's original question when I was able.