People are bullied because they are "easy to bully". People are mugged because they are "easy to mug". People are murdered because they are "easy to kill".
Therefore, we shouldn't punish the bullies, muggers, murderers. Those victims had it coming because they were smaller, or slower, less aggressive, or didn't carry around a weapon.
Your "wild guess" is pretty far off. I had many friends and an at least average social life. Peddle your "social outcast" theory elsewhere. Sometimes, a person attacks another because they percieve a deficiency in themselves and don't want to face it.
As for your last paragraph, I don't get how you think that my saying "some jock" implies I'm an asshole. Did you go to a public high school? The star athletes at my school got grades that they didn't earn and weren't disciplined for bad behavior since that might prevent them from playing in the game that weekend. But, I'm an "asshole" for pointing out that they got away with whatever they did? I think one of us is an asshole here, but I'm pretty sure it's not me.
It's been my experience that getting good grades is plenty good enough for the bullies to pick on someone. If that is what you mean by "under the mistaken impression that they're smarter, which has a tendency to piss people off" then I guess that's true.
So, what would you have these kids do? Purposely get poorer grades just so they don't piss off "less academic" people? I did this when I was in school and it didn't seem to help much. When I was in the 11th grade, some jock threw gum in my hair in class because "he didn't like it that I acted so smart". So, I should flunk out like that loser just so he wouldn't get pissed off?
Sorry, but there's a reason why some people are bullied, and some aren't. But I don't think you're prepared to hear that truth.
Yeah, the reason some people are bullied is because they dress differently than their peers. Or act differently. Or are smarter. Or are just unlucky enough to piss some asshole off.
But, that's okay, right. They had it coming. Being all smart and everything. That justifies systematic humiliation.
"One little slip"? Those little shits stole the video, converted it to a computerized format (mpeg, mov, whatever), and posted it online somewhere specifically to embarrass and humiliate their classmate.
It's not like they accidentally caused him harm. They set about doing it. They deserve every bit of punishment that they receive. It is exactly this sort of bullying behavior that leads to teenagers committing suicide or worse, murder.
I'm tempted to nail the door shut, draw the curtains, and never interact with people again.
I wish you would.
Seriously, how can you defend someone maliciously abusing a kid because you thought it was funny? Would you really enjoy living out your most embarrassing moments over and over again in front of millions?
I don't agree with your last statement "Ease of learning is as important as ease of use." You only have to learn how to do something one time. You might do that task hundreds or thousands of times. So, ease of use to me is much more important.
For the record, I use Kubuntu on my 2 home computers and Mepis on my computer at work.
What I find "sinister" about the whole thing is the CALs. I mean, you pay Microsoft for the server and the clients, and now you have to pay again for some right to magically connect the two? Ridiculous.
Since you mention kde-redhat I assume that you are a KDE fan (like myself). In that case you should try Kubuntu which is basically Ubuntu with KDE in place of Gnome. You COULD install Ubuntu and then apt-get the KDE metapackage, but then you would have both environments and you may not want that.
I'm not sure where you got "FEMA is doing a fantastic job" from (unless you mean fantastic in the unbelievable sense). I lived in Bay St. Louis (Apartment was destroyed) and am now living in a spare room with a friend's family in Picayune. The people that I have spoken with have almost universally reviled FEMA. If you go down Hwy 90 into Waveland/Bay St. Louis you see signs like "FEMA hung up on me" and "FEMA is no help". A friend of mine was treated very rudely by the FEMA rep after she finally was able to contact one by phone. She says she will report the incident but not until she's sure her claim has gone through because she fears retaliation. Around here, FEMA is a four letter word.
If you want to install and get to use Linux right away, get SimplyMepis.
Absolutely the easiest install that I have ever experienced. Boot up the liveCD, open the installer app, click through a few screens, and reboot. Dead simple.
It will use the proprietary Nvidia or ATI video drivers, installs the Flash plugin, and lots of other goodies that make it easy to just start using it.
I can't believe that you are seriously defending the music of Britney Spears. She is a no-talent hack that no one would have ever heard of if she weren't young, pretty and willing to wear skimpy costumes in her videos.
Y'know, defending crap singers doesn't make you witty or admirable, and it sure as hell won't get you laid. All it does is make you look like a geek, and not in a good way.
I guess that I am the counterpoint to your experience. I have both a Mac OS X and Linux desktop at work. I only use the Mac for video editing, the overwhelming majority of my other work is on the Linux box. I am much more productive in the KDE workspace than OS X.
In Mepis, you check a little box during the install and you get the ATI or Nvidia hardware accelerated drivers.
I think that the biggest problem is that you're using a server focused distribution for your desktop. Nothing wrong with that, but there are plenty of distributions that are friendlier for desktop installs.
You're right to question my post-- It was very poorly worded. I used the word vulnerabilities when I intended to write exploits.
So, one hypothesis is that Windows has more exploits than Linux because it is more popular and therefore more likely to be attacked.
However, an equally valid hypothesis is that Linux has fewer total vulnerabilities and that they are more difficult to exploit.
The popularity myth turns "security by obscurity" on it head by saying the the open system (Linux) is more obscure by virtue of a smaller installed base.
I would try SimplyMepis or Kubuntu or Ubuntu. Mepis in particular is a breeze to set up. It is just one CD but it includes most everything that you want. Plus, it is set up to access lots of Mepis and Debian software repositories so you have around 17,000 packages at your fingertips. Upgrades are easy too, with synaptic (or my favorite, apt-get in a console).
Right. Like "use regedit to change the registry entry 94651IJCYAIUD85THOAUEY73 from 07 to 0F and then reboot the machine" is any better.
Oh and let's not forget the "reboot and pray" step where you hope that you didn't hose everything because all the system configuration is in a single corruptible binary file along with everything else's settings. What exactly was the point you were trying to make?
But you haven't provided any sort of evidence whatsoever to support the correctness of the popularity myth. So far as I am aware, no one has. Yet, many people accept it because it comforts them to think that their platform would be just a secure as the other guys if it weren't so darn popular.
Correlation does not necessarily imply causation-- just because it is popular and has the most vulnerabilities does NOT mean that those security lapses are BECAUSE it's popular.
Ah yes, the "blame the victim" defense.
People are bullied because they are "easy to bully".
People are mugged because they are "easy to mug".
People are murdered because they are "easy to kill".
Therefore, we shouldn't punish the bullies, muggers, murderers. Those victims had it coming because they were smaller, or slower, less aggressive, or didn't carry around a weapon.
Your "wild guess" is pretty far off. I had many friends and an at least average social life. Peddle your "social outcast" theory elsewhere. Sometimes, a person attacks another because they percieve a deficiency in themselves and don't want to face it.
As for your last paragraph, I don't get how you think that my saying "some jock" implies I'm an asshole. Did you go to a public high school? The star athletes at my school got grades that they didn't earn and weren't disciplined for bad behavior since that might prevent them from playing in the game that weekend. But, I'm an "asshole" for pointing out that they got away with whatever they did? I think one of us is an asshole here, but I'm pretty sure it's not me.
It's been my experience that getting good grades is plenty good enough for the bullies to pick on someone. If that is what you mean by "under the mistaken impression that they're smarter, which has a tendency to piss people off" then I guess that's true.
So, what would you have these kids do? Purposely get poorer grades just so they don't piss off "less academic" people? I did this when I was in school and it didn't seem to help much. When I was in the 11th grade, some jock threw gum in my hair in class because "he didn't like it that I acted so smart". So, I should flunk out like that loser just so he wouldn't get pissed off?
Sorry, but there's a reason why some people are bullied, and some aren't. But I don't think you're prepared to hear that truth.
Yeah, the reason some people are bullied is because they dress differently than their peers. Or act differently. Or are smarter. Or are just unlucky enough to piss some asshole off.
But, that's okay, right. They had it coming. Being all smart and everything. That justifies systematic humiliation.
"One little slip"? Those little shits stole the video, converted it to a computerized format (mpeg, mov, whatever), and posted it online somewhere specifically to embarrass and humiliate their classmate.
It's not like they accidentally caused him harm. They set about doing it. They deserve every bit of punishment that they receive. It is exactly this sort of bullying behavior that leads to teenagers committing suicide or worse, murder.
"Learn to take a joke" is the rallying cry of people who humiliate someone else and don't want to take responsibility for it.
I'm tempted to nail the door shut, draw the curtains, and never interact with people again.
I wish you would.
Seriously, how can you defend someone maliciously abusing a kid because you thought it was funny? Would you really enjoy living out your most embarrassing moments over and over again in front of millions?
I think you mean "Caveat Venditor"(let the seller beware). "Caveat Emptor" means let the buyer beware.
I don't believe it! That's the code for my luggage!
I guess that I'm exceptional too :-)
I greatly prefer KDE to any other desktop including OS X.
You obviously haven't tried out Kubuntu. My install of Breezy automagically puts a icon on the desktop when I plug in my USB drive.
I don't agree with your last statement "Ease of learning is as important as ease of use." You only have to learn how to do something one time. You might do that task hundreds or thousands of times. So, ease of use to me is much more important.
For the record, I use Kubuntu on my 2 home computers and Mepis on my computer at work.
Good grief! The moderator that labeled you "Troll" must be using some illicit pharma him/herself.
Does that include you? ;)
What I find "sinister" about the whole thing is the CALs. I mean, you pay Microsoft for the server and the clients, and now you have to pay again for some right to magically connect the two? Ridiculous.
Since you mention kde-redhat I assume that you are a KDE fan (like myself). In that case you should try Kubuntu which is basically Ubuntu with KDE in place of Gnome. You COULD install Ubuntu and then apt-get the KDE metapackage, but then you would have both environments and you may not want that.
I'm not sure where you got "FEMA is doing a fantastic job" from (unless you mean fantastic in the unbelievable sense). I lived in Bay St. Louis (Apartment was destroyed) and am now living in a spare room with a friend's family in Picayune. The people that I have spoken with have almost universally reviled FEMA. If you go down Hwy 90 into Waveland/Bay St. Louis you see signs like "FEMA hung up on me" and "FEMA is no help". A friend of mine was treated very rudely by the FEMA rep after she finally was able to contact one by phone. She says she will report the incident but not until she's sure her claim has gone through because she fears retaliation. Around here, FEMA is a four letter word.
If you want to install and get to use Linux right away, get SimplyMepis.
Absolutely the easiest install that I have ever experienced. Boot up the liveCD, open the installer app, click through a few screens, and reboot. Dead simple.
It will use the proprietary Nvidia or ATI video drivers, installs the Flash plugin, and lots of other goodies that make it easy to just start using it.
I can't believe that you are seriously defending the music of Britney Spears. She is a no-talent hack that no one would have ever heard of if she weren't young, pretty and willing to wear skimpy costumes in her videos.
Y'know, defending crap singers doesn't make you witty or admirable, and it sure as hell won't get you laid. All it does is make you look like a geek, and not in a good way.
I guess that I am the counterpoint to your experience. I have both a Mac OS X and Linux desktop at work. I only use the Mac for video editing, the overwhelming majority of my other work is on the Linux box. I am much more productive in the KDE workspace than OS X.
In Mepis, you check a little box during the install and you get the ATI or Nvidia hardware accelerated drivers.
I think that the biggest problem is that you're using a server focused distribution for your desktop. Nothing wrong with that, but there are plenty of distributions that are friendlier for desktop installs.
You're right to question my post-- It was very poorly worded. I used the word vulnerabilities when I intended to write exploits.
So, one hypothesis is that Windows has more exploits than Linux because it is more popular and therefore more likely to be attacked.
However, an equally valid hypothesis is that Linux has fewer total vulnerabilities and that they are more difficult to exploit.
The popularity myth turns "security by obscurity" on it head by saying the the open system (Linux) is more obscure by virtue of a smaller installed base.
I would try SimplyMepis or Kubuntu or Ubuntu. Mepis in particular is a breeze to set up. It is just one CD but it includes most everything that you want. Plus, it is set up to access lots of Mepis and Debian software repositories so you have around 17,000 packages at your fingertips. Upgrades are easy too, with synaptic (or my favorite, apt-get in a console).
Right. Like "use regedit to change the registry entry 94651IJCYAIUD85THOAUEY73 from 07 to 0F and then reboot the machine" is any better.
Oh and let's not forget the "reboot and pray" step where you hope that you didn't hose everything because all the system configuration is in a single corruptible binary file along with everything else's settings. What exactly was the point you were trying to make?
But you haven't provided any sort of evidence whatsoever to support the correctness of the popularity myth. So far as I am aware, no one has. Yet, many people accept it because it comforts them to think that their platform would be just a secure as the other guys if it weren't so darn popular.
Correlation does not necessarily imply causation-- just because it is popular and has the most vulnerabilities does NOT mean that those security lapses are BECAUSE it's popular.