The Age of Aggressive Linux Advocacy Is Upon Us?

GonzoJohn writes "Jamie Harrison, founder of GBLUG in Glen Burnie, Maryland, has written an exclusive editorial for Linux Orbit about how he sees the state of Linux advocacy. "Whether we want to admit it or not, Linux has entered a critical period in its development - a period that may, in fact, determine in fate forever. Now that Linux is no longer a strange little niche Operating System, and has developed to the point where Microsoft actually feels threatened by its proliferation, the folks in Redmond are doing everything they can in the way of software design, legislation, regulation and control of the internet to snuff Linux out. The main reason that they have failed up to this point is that Linux has matured and grown in popularity, gaining public and private defenders in the consumer market and especially the corporate boardroom." Read the editorial here" I don't think that I agree with all the points here - but it's an informative read if nothing else.

Comments

Manifest Destiny-sounding fluff

[Marasmus]

I seemed to feel a tone of 'manifest destiny' in the article. Is it just me who believes that philosophy is completely irrelevant to Linux?

We don't NEED to gain market share. We don't NEED to singlehandedly supplant Windows in order to be successful. In fact, if Linux does supplant Windows, it's just going to become the next widely-hated major OS of the time, until someone else comes along and supplants Linux. Doesn't sound like fun to me.

What goals does the Linux community have, other than supplanting Windows? Hrm.... creating an autonymously stable and useful operating system. Showing the Windows world what it's like to build an OS that interoperates with the majority of standards out there. Tons of others.... Why do we feel this conquistador-like goal to take over the OS world? It seems bullish and idiotic to me. There are much better things we can accomplish, cooperatively, when we're not wasting our time trying to dominate. If we keep this up for too long, Linux really will be the next Windows, in all the worst ways.

Re:Now we've got to be careful...

[FortKnox]

I agree, and as I've mentioned OVER and OVER again, be polite and handhold those that wish to try it.

If you can't handle it, or have sudden urges to spout "RTFM!", then walk away and let someone who can be polite take over.

"Aggressive" can be misunderstood in this article title. Hemos doesn't mean to be "rudely aggressive", but to market the idea of Linux more often, but still politely.