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When Enthusiasm For Free Software Turns Ugly

Posted by Soulskill on from the can't-we-all-just-get-along dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Bruce Byfield writes for Linux Magazine about the unfortunate side-effect of people being passionate about open source software: discussions about rival projects can get heated and turn ugly. "Why, for example, would I possibly to see OpenOffice humiliated? I prefer LibreOffice's releases, and — with some misgivings — the Free Software Foundation's philosophy and licensing over that of the Apache Foundation. I also question the efficiency of having two office suites so closely related to each other. Yet while exploring such issues may be news, I don't forget that, despite these differences, OpenOffice and the Apache Foundation still have the same general goals as LibreOffice or the Free Software Foundation. The same is true of other famous feuds. Why, because I have a personal preference for KDE, am I supposed to ignore GNOME's outstanding interface designs? Similarly, because I value Debian's stability and efforts at democracy, am I supposed to have a strong distaste for Ubuntu?"

6 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Why Indeed by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Why, for example, would I possibly to see OpenOffice humiliated?

    I don't often possibly to see.

    But when I do, I ask myself why would I.

    For example.

  2. Can't we all just get along? by Anubis+IV · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think, if we can just be patient and take the time to learn a bit more about each other, we can—quite possibly—finally get along with one another. No more fighting. No more squabbling. No more arguing about who or what is better. We learn to coexist.

    Ya know, I think we may be on to something here. Before we lose this moment, let's just jot down those thoughts quickly...in emacs.

    1. Re:Can't we all just get along? by jbernardo · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think that vi lends itself better to that state of understanding and empathy.
      I see no reason to write this shared moment in emacs other than a desire to be divisive and non caring towards command line users.

    2. Re:Can't we all just get along? by TeknoHog · · Score: 5, Funny

      Emacs was nice, but I now prefer systemd instead.

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  3. Gnome's outstanding interface design? by lars_stefan_axelsson · · Score: 4, Funny

    "am I supposed to ignore GNOME's outstanding interface designs?"

    Uhh? What? Where's this outstanding interface design, and why haven't they told anyone about it?

    Look, we're not ignoring it. They just haven't shown it to us! Please, why keep that a secret and release Gnome 3 shell instead?

    --
    Stefan Axelsson
  4. I'll tell you why by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why, for example, would I possibly to see OpenOffice humiliated?

    Because it never tells you when you accidentally a word, that's why.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.