[luau] Thinktech Hawaii and Linux

[Casey Roberts]

--- Gary Dunn <knowtree at aloha.com> wrote:

> > ... I think with
> > more development it could replace windows servers.
> 
> Really? When? Any time soon, you suppose?
> Open-source servers currently
> outnumber windows servers. By a wide margin. Proof?
> Look here:
> http://www.netcraft.com/survey/
> 
> By all means, maddog, include some open-source
> supporters on your show.
> Without us, the show will become laughably out of
> touch.

I hate to be the one that sounds like a spoil-sport,
but I think it is this kind of attitude that prevents
the adoption of Open Source alternatives.  Some of us
have been using and making wonderful tools that may
not get as much recognition as commercial products for
a while.  It seems when others begin to recognize and
use said tools, we make fun of their lack of
knowledge, or of their questions.  Or we belittle
someone's software choice when their choice does not
coincide with our personal choices.  Then we ask
ourselves why companies are wary to adopt or develop
for Open Source projects and systems.  It is this kind
of attitude that perpetuates misunderstanding, and it
will continue to be this kind of attitude that
prevents the common user from adopting Open Source
alternatives.  Please remember that Open Source
alternatives are just that: alternatives.  Just as we
have a right to decide what we personally use, so does
everyone else.  I understand that many of us feel that
our choices are superior to others, but we must
respect that they have opinions too.  Open Source
tools may be better than commercial closed-source, but
there are many people that choose the closed-source
option beacuse it is what they are used to, or the
Open Source alternative is cumbersome.  I feel it is
our responsibility to the Open Source community to
educate others about the alternatives, not to slander
their choices.

I was drawn to Linux because I am learning as much as
I can about POSIX-type systems.  I never used UNIX
before I joined the Navy, and instantly fell in love
with it when I was introduced to it at my service
school.  Seeing as I am drawing near the end of my
term in the service, that was 3 years ago that I
started using UNIX.  I am still a newbie, in my
opinion.  I have only been using Linux for a little
over a year now.  I got my first copy of a
distribution (RH7.2) at ITEC, where I met such
wonderful and knowledgeable people, like Devon
Phillips from ALOHA.  I subscribed to the list
afterwards to see what knowledge I could find that
could help me both at work and at home.  I haven't
asked much of the group, as others had asked questions
that I had or didn't know that I wanted to ask.  I
have found that this list is a fountain of knowledge,
and appreciate all the help.

I know there are others like me that, for the longest
time, didn't think there was a true alternative to
Windows.  To so others that there really is a viable
alternative, we must welcome questions, and be as
helpful as possible.  At the same time we need to
learn that ignorance can be solved through education,
not through slander or putting on airs.  I have a hard
time bringing up Open Source alternatives to people
when their perception of it revolves around people
with a better-than-you attitude.  I personally have
made myself available for questions about Open Source
to friends and strangers, and I hope that we all will
do this.  I am sorry this post ran long, but I cannot
stand by any longer to such actions.  I know this will
open me to all sorts of flaming, but I hope that maybe
we can open our eyes.

Casey

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
http://shopping.yahoo.com