Re: Certain Linux "Advocates" Spell DOOM for Linux

From: Rex Ballard (r.e.ballard_at_usa.net)
Date: 09/27/04 

Date: 27 Sep 2004 13:06:30 -0700

wintroll@yahoo.com (Suzie) wrote in message news:<ecc1c8e8.0409261846.5e7dbc4c@posting.google.com>...
> 7 recently said:
> | Hmmmm... I think I hear a sheep again.
> | Let me adjust the horizontal, tweekthevertical,
> | redo the undoable, delete a fat partition or two,
> | and then modulate the high frequencies,
> | and now see what it sounds like...
>
> 7 is an example of an EXTREME "advocate".

Note that the poster the was responding to had posted his claim of
Microsoft superiority then followed it with:
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Which could be the evil laugh of the devil, Dr Evil, or some other
fiend.
Or it could be the bleating of sheep.

It was cute. Still;

> Lately, 7 has been dishing out friendly fire to fellow, but less
> extreme, Linux advocates.
>
> Example:
> | *plonk!*
> | Luser.
> |
> | Another M$ astro turfer posting e-mailed instructions direct from
> Redmond.

A response to another post claiming Microsoft superiority in the guise
of "Advocacy".

> While Linux has "advocates" like 7, Linux ain't going nowhere.

We agree on one thing 7 is not going to profoundly influence any CIOs,
CTO,s CEO, CFO, government officials, or even media reporters with
tactics like that. On the other hand, this type of jeuvenile behavior
is a great form of "Noise" used to drive away "committed lurkers". On
the other hand, you have people like me and Ghost in the Machine who
provide some really good insights.

> Which professional company IN THEIR RIGHT MIND is gonna
> take the chance with Linux when the Linux community
> (which is partly made up of Linux developers) contains such people?

When Microsoft released Windows XP, they gave corporate customers 30
days to accept terms that tripled the tribute paid to Microsoft, and
demanded that they accept shipments of - and debt obligations to -
Windows XP - or suffer consequences which would lead to their
bankruptcy within 12-24 months.

When the Huns, Goths, Vandals, and other marauding tribes roamed
northern Europe, those with strong armer and good horses would simply
right up to the local villages and demand "Tribute". In exchange for
- 1/2 the crop - they wouldn't burn down everything in sight, kill all
the men and boys, rape all the young women and girls, and then mount
all the corpses on long stakes to show what happens to those who
refuse these raiders.

Usually, after making good on their threat in a few poorly developed
villages, with meager defenses, caught by surprise, the neighboring
villages got the message and paid their "tribute".

The street gangs aren't much different.

And Microsoft isn't much different either. Bill Gates dropped out of
Harvard before he got the courses on ethics, integrity, honor, and
responsibility. He has his own meanings for these words. Ethics
means you don't pirate Microsoft's software (but he can steal your and
market it through his monopoly). Integrity means carrying out your
threats - making examples of a few weak and defenseless companies. Go
after some mom & pop PC shop where the proprieters barely speak
English, just to show others how severely you punish pirates.
Responsibilty means that you are responsible to honor all of
Microsoft's EULA terms, and hold Microsoft blameless, regardless of
how malicious it's acts, or how much damage is caused by it's
negligence and sabotage. Honor - that's what you give up when you
make your deal with Microsoft, when you betray your investors,
employees, and customers - so that you can pay Microsoft it's tribute.

We turn Bill Gates into a role model, the ultimate businessman, then
wonder, after 20 years of doing this, how we can have Enron, WorldCom,
and so on.

> Then there are other "advocates" like Johannes Bauer, who seem solely
> intent on posting insults (again, friendly fire, in some cases).
> Peter Koehlman is another.

Let the children play. Better to keep them in the fenced yard than
have them out their playing in traffic. :-D

> The problem is that when you get too religious about something, all
> sense goes out the window. This is the case with 7, Johannes, Peter,
> and others.

Both sides have their zealots. DFS, Bailo, Relf, Flatfish, all
provide plenty of inciendiary fodder to inspire both the childish
responses and the more thoughtful responses.

> To the REAL Linux advocates: treat these zealots as you treat the
> trolls: dispell all the bull*** they spout.

I've had to confront my own son (Nick Ballard) for some of his abusive
behavior. Unfortunately, his mother and stepfather didn't teach him
manners. I'm not as committed to transforming 7 and Peter.

On the other hand, I search out postings by Ghost, he's usually very
thoughtful.

Thanks.

> Heed this advice, or see Linux heading the way of the dodo.