When I put together the “Linux Sucks” presentation… I knew I was asking for trouble.
I knew, without a doubt, that the title alone would bring the crazies out from under the stairs and they would go after me (and the Linux Action Show).
And, you know what? I wanted that.
Why? Because it helps to highlight many of the points I’ve been making. And it helps give, even greater, exposure to a topic that needs a great deal of public discussion.
Surprisingly… the responses were fairly positive (or, at least, mostly civil and reasonable).
I’ve been almost disappointed! Where were all the crazies!? (And we all know exactly the type of person I’m talking about.) (… okay…I haven’t actually been disappointed. Where’s that <sarcasm> tag at…)
Luckily, our good friends over at Boycott Novell put on their crazy pants and showed up to the party with a nice little post titled:
Is Jupiter Broadcasting’s Linux Action Show Anti-GNU/Linux?
Awesome.
Yes. Of course the Linux Action Show is anti Linux. Obviously. That’s why we’ve produced the largest Linux podcast in the world for almost 3 years now. Because of how much hate we have for Linux. (I really need to find that <sarcasm> tag soon…)
Obviously, Boycott Novell did this as an attempt to pull traffic. I know that. It’s an obvious troll-type post (hell, I’m pretty certain the writer didn’t even watch most of the video).
“But… Bryan… ” you might be asking, “Why give Boycott Novell, a website that wrote up an obvious toll story on you, any publicity and traffic?”
One main reason:
Boycott Novell has been a haven for crazy sounding posts far too often. That is one website that makes us all look bad. And I’m not exactly the type of person to byte my tongue.
Plus…
Sounds like fun. (I may chalk this up under the “Seemed like a good idea at the time” category later…)
Of course they’re free to do and say what they like. Just as any of us are free to go to their blog and use the phrase “poo poo head” in the comments section of the post in question.
I’m not saying any of you should go there and add a comment along the lines of “Boycott Novell are poo poo heads”… I’m just saying that doesn’t seem like a bad idea to me. (Crud. Where’s that <hinthint> tag… I need a tag organizer!)
UPDATE
New post over at Boycott Novell today:
Love it.
May 8th, 2009 - 12:38 am
My feeling on the presentation, while not agreeing 100%, I will give you a solid 88% overall.
It was well presented, well thought out and well put.
Don’t mind the purists, this is nothing new. Trust me, I have been seeing this sort of Koolaid silliness for years.
May 8th, 2009 - 12:42 am
What is amazing me is that “troll patrol” from Lxer has not begun fling stuff at ya yet.
Those folks are completely unhinged based on my own experiences with them.
May 8th, 2009 - 12:42 am
^Flinging even
May 8th, 2009 - 3:07 am
Aw geez, Bryan. Sure, I agree with you, but wouldn’t inciting an attack on these guys be a wee step too far?
You say you want things to be civil. Seems to me a bunch of five-year-olds in the playground fighting over power rangers or legos or saying “Hah! Those ‘Boycott Novell’ guys are a bunch of POO-POO HEADS! NYEAH NYEAHHH!” doesn’t seem to be very civilized.
May 8th, 2009 - 4:57 am
Michael: But… but… saying “poo poo heads” is kinda obviously a bit tongue in cheek.
May 8th, 2009 - 1:33 pm
Bryan, why didn’t you contact the Open Office support forum when you had issues with Open Office?
“How many people among you have had an issue with Open Office and you fixed it. One ,two, that’s pretty good, ok so two out of how many people, odds are for the rest of us Linux and Open Office suck”
May 8th, 2009 - 2:11 pm
[...] right, so now a few people lost faith in them. They are acting immaturely about it and it comes from Brian himself. He [...]
May 8th, 2009 - 2:39 pm
New to linux, but here:
1. What’s the whole focus or goal of linux? To be the desktop everyone should have? To be the OS people can rely on for internet and personal security? to make it a job where programmers, graphic designers, developers (games, software, etc) and overall profesionals can make a living of? If not then what are you all(linux distros) thinking? If not then linux will always be an OS people work on to make it better, not necesarily in every aspect nor for everyone.
2. Now if Distros sync into one main focus which I know they will pick something productive whether its linux vs windows or whatever, then IM SURE DISTROS will realize “hey why not make it easier to install apps. Lets do all DEBs, or RPMs, or .BLAH.” I mean, when users deside to try linux the first thing they want to do is install their favorite programs. I say, UNITED will conquer, DIVIDED…its just what it is.
3. Good luck. I love linux, certain things suck, I agree with you bryan. Not that they suck, they just need more development. (hope I said it right, I’m just a user, not a programmer, I wish I was)
4.Bryan, I’m new to linux world, where can I go about learning programming for linux? Give us an advice if you don’t mind.
May 8th, 2009 - 3:07 pm
1.(edited)…If not then what are you all(linux distros) thinking? If not then linux will always be an OS people work on WEEKEDS to make it better, not necesarily in every aspect nor for everyone.
5.About the funding, if the linux community decided to fund 1 project at a time then im sure we can have people donate $10.00 a week, that is if 1,000 people x 40.00(a month)x 1yr=480,000 /9 dedicated professionals = 53,333 can a programmer live with that? If not im sure we can have 2,000 donators
I’ll be the first to give my 40.00 monthly! So where do we start?
Who’s next?
May 8th, 2009 - 4:12 pm
Doug says “Bryan, why didn’t you contact the Open Office support forum when you had issues with Open Office?”.
I Say in reply: I think, perhaps, you should watch it again. I think you missed the point.
DiiPhantom:
Welcome man! If you’re looking for places to get started in developing for Linux, we’re running a series of developer specific videos over on JupiterBroadcasting.com right now covering a few specific development tools available to Linux developers.
Hope that helps!
May 8th, 2009 - 5:46 pm
After reading all the stories and both comments on this whole thing. I have to agree with you Bryan. I don’t think Boycott Novell did listen to your video. The whole point of the topic was about improving Linux and see what it would take to become the dominate operating system.
But here is the really kicker. Have you notice that Boycott Novel has closed there comments, while Bryan has still left his open.
Hymm! If most people really thought about that, they would realize who really is the problem here.
Oh and two things about the poo poo comment.
First — That is what twitter is for. Why have a twitter account if you aren’t going to tweet the stupid things that come to your head through out the day.
Second! — I do agree that the whole poo poo comment is a immature. But being a 3 year listener to the Linux Auction Show, I 100% expected it and that is why I love Bryan.
Last thought.
I was going to post this on Boycott Novel, but they truly don’t care about my opinion and have censured the world, by closing there comments and refused to talk any more about the subject.
People really need to understand were Bryan was going with his talk and it’s true purpose. You don’t necessarily have to agree with him, but he is not the person Boycott Novel is trying to make him or the show.
May 8th, 2009 - 6:55 pm
Who cares about Boycott Novell? They’re the worst of the Linux community. Seriously, screw them.
May 9th, 2009 - 1:57 am
Bryan,
You are so totally wrong. If we did what you suggested, what we would end up with is a poor imitation of Windows.
OK, so we end up implementing the same thing half a dozen different ways. You know what? This produces better software. So a few projects die because of the competition.
Think of it as Evolution in Action.
Yes, I posted the same thing over at Helios blog too.
May 9th, 2009 - 2:51 am
The mad hatter, but don’t you think that you are over doing it? I mean the programmers. Bryan didn’t say make it close source, which means programmers will make open source programs where people can and still will check for bugs.
May 9th, 2009 - 10:11 am
I have to agree with The Mad Hatter. You are so totally wrong.
May 9th, 2009 - 10:14 am
Do you not think that Ubuntu (just an example) can take the course they think is best for their distribution? Which may or may not conflict with what you would like to see? If you have all the answers, why don’t you make an distro which follow all the points in your presentation? If consumers want this ability to by via an appstore, your distro will win in the marked space
May 9th, 2009 - 10:17 am
Do Windows or Apple have an appstore for all the big applications?
Can you get Adobe CS via Steam? Or do we have to have one store for games, one store for office games and another for content?
Seems like not even Windows or Apple have solved this problem….
May 9th, 2009 - 10:18 am
@ comment 16, the last line should have been:
“consumers want this ability to buy via an appstore, your distro will win in the marked space”