A bunch of useless crap
Published on February 8, 2007 By MasonM In Misc
I am the first to admit that sometimes I can take things the wrong way, especially over the net where words are all there is. But I don't think I am in the wrong in this little dispute on a popular Linux forum. But, I am open to the possibility that I was wrong. Tell me what you think.

This was the original post, titled "Micro sof.. err crap" by someone:

ok one question, know how ignerent microsoft is, why is it that every operating system they come out with, they always say, better! safer! etc! as of for linux. they dont really have to improve the operating system that much, just update it with more goodies! anyone else feel the same??


Pretty stupid post really. Here's my reply:

It's just marketing. They make a commercial product and as such they have to market it to encourage people to buy it.

While the Windows OS has a long history of being insecure by default and has always been pretty terrible at properly managing resources, you have to give them credit where credit is due. They probably have tightened up the default security in Vista as compared to Xp or other older releases. I'm sure there will be holes in the OS to begin with. You are talking about millions of lines of code so it's almost a sure bet something got missed.

Windows biggest security problem isn't really the OS itself but rather the default settings "out of the box" and the biggest security flaw of all - the bulk of the users themselves who don't have the slightest clue.

I think the biggest issue people are going to find with Vista is that a lot of their applications are not going to be compatible (already reading reports on this from people installing it), and their hardware isn't going to be up to par for the new requirements.

All of that long-windedness aside, there's no point in OS bashing. People will use what works best for them regardless of what we think is actually better.


Seemed like a reasonable reply to me.

here is part what someone posted in response to my reply:

OS Bashing is "word of mouth" advertising so does have some point in countering marketing.


to which I replied

There's a big difference between stating the facts of the relative merits of different operating systems and OS bashing.

Sadly, far too many people (read fan boys) don't understand that difference.


to which this asshat replied

Right - people don't agree with YOUR point of view so that means theirs has no merit. I recommend you read warty bliggins the toad


so i replied

hmmm, seems someone is simply looking to pick a fight. Sorry, I'm not biting. I never said that anyone's opinion lacked merit, I simply stated my own opinion. If you disagree, that's just dandy with me. Such makes the world go around and lively conversation.

I recommend that you read what others actually write instead of inferring some petty insult where none was actually written.


to which the aforementioned asshat replied

Infer a petty insult - Didn't your post say:

Quote:
(read fan boys)

???

Are we to assume that was meant as a compliment?

Funny though you didn't "bite" you did respond. As far as picking a fight no - I responded to what you wrote after reading it.


and I replied

So you consider yourself a fan boy instead of as an intelligent computer user? If you do then yes an insult was surely intended as I have no respect at all for such brain dead morons, but your first post didn't strike me as coming from such an idiot.

Until now I thought we were merely discussing semantics, but perhaps I was wrong and in that case yes I did indeed mean to insult you and rightly so.


That's where it is right now. Was I wrong in my replies or not? I admit sometimes I do get a tad off on my perceptions but I don't think I was here. To me it looks like this guy is an asshat and is trying to do battle with someone who:

1. Was never looking for a battle.

2. Is far better armed.



Comments (Page 1)
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on Feb 09, 2007
OS bashing is the grassroots equivalent of the stupid mac ads. The person looks to me like they thought they'd get a circle jerk going and was annoyed that everyone didn't hop on the MS bashing orgy.

The real problem with MS's marketing is their competitor... their last OS. They don't compete really with Linux, or even Apple. Vista is competing against XP, and XP competed against 2000, which competed against 98.

That sounds easy, until you realize that they can't just release the best of the best without reservation. Why? Well, because in a couple of years they will have to compete against THAT. What happens if they shoot their wad today, and then later have a drought of ideas?

You can feel it with each new release. They always have so much stuff they are lauding on the back burner in their research groups, but when the next OS appears, you see little of it. It's in their interest to make a less-than-perfect OS, because later they don't want to compete against a perfect OS.
on Feb 09, 2007
OS bashing is the grassroots equivalent of the stupid mac ads.


I agree but the operative word there is stupid. Windows bashing is very common within the Linux community and while I personally dislike the Windows OS (pick a version) I don't see much in the way of intelligence in the bunch who do this. I make a comment here and there for the sake of humor, but it really is pretty stupid.

As for the balance of your comments, I agree to an extent.
on Feb 09, 2007

The real problem with MS's marketing is their competitor... their last OS. They don't compete really with Linux, or even Apple. Vista is competing against XP, and XP competed against 2000, which competed against 98.

Hey!  What happened to ME?  Oh wait, that one was no competition!

As for the exchange, good natured ribbing on an OS is fun, as long as you dont take yourself too seriously.  I like to tweak Mac users noses at times because they make your adversary here look tame in comparison.  But I only do that to get their goat.  Frankly, if Apple had played it smarter, they would be the Microsoft of today as they had a superior product up until Win2k.  When MS finally caught up. So even tho I use it sparingly, I like the OS, as I do Linux. But will gladly do a "my dad is bigger than your dad" in fun at times.

But when you take the tweaking seroiusly, that is when you stop playing, and become an asshat.

on Feb 09, 2007
I've long ago found that many of those that are spoiling for a war of words are ill-equipped to do battle once it starts.  Doesn't stop me for enjoying the exchanges though, nor from deriving pleasure from their feeble attempts to do their best.
on Feb 09, 2007
Hey! What happened to ME? Oh wait, that one was no competition!




As for the exchange, good natured ribbing on an OS is fun, as long as you dont take yourself too seriously. I like to tweak Mac users noses at times because they make your adversary here look tame in comparison. But I only do that to get their goat. Frankly, if Apple had played it smarter, they would be the Microsoft of today as they had a superior product up until Win2k. When MS finally caught up. So even tho I use it sparingly, I like the OS, as I do Linux. But will gladly do a "my dad is bigger than your dad" in fun at times.

But when you take the tweaking seroiusly, that is when you stop playing, and become an asshat.


Yep. A bit of good natured banter can be fun for all until somebody gets their feelings hurt or wants to take it all seriously, Personally I don't understand the OS fan boys. A computer and it's OS is a tool and people use the tool that works best for them. Sadly, some people are a tool.

on Feb 09, 2007
I've long ago found that many of those that are spoiling for a war of words are ill-equipped to do battle once it starts.


Yeah, that's true. Some look for any chance to pick a fight and then have to run away when they find one.
on Feb 09, 2007
No, you weren't wrong. Your responses was quite ok until he picked a fight.
on Feb 09, 2007
No, you weren't wrong. Your responses was quite ok until he picked a fight.


Yeah, that's what I thought too.
on Feb 12, 2007
I hate to say it but I am, for the most part, O/S neutral (OK, I don't like Mac, but that's because of the HARDWARE, NOT the software!). The way I see it, people don't pay me to opine on their choice of O/S, they pay me to fix their computers. If my OPINION is asked, I have some favorites, but for the most part, that is the EU's decision to make.

I don't think you were out of line at all, Mason. While many in the Linux community like to think of themselves as superior, Linux infighting is, in my extremely arrogant, biased opinion, the single most important reason why Linux has not yet gone mainstream. I use Ubuntu, you use Slackware. In some circles, that would be enough to start a lengthy flame. But we each have our own reasons for our choices, and we're ultimately the ones who have to live with it.
on Feb 12, 2007
Linux infighting is, in my extremely arrogant, biased opinion, the single most important reason why Linux has not yet gone mainstream.


Well, I understand your point but have to disagree with this being the primary reason for Linux not being mainstream. The primary reason is marketing. "Linux" has no large corporation out there marketing it to the masses, and Microsoft has pretty much locked in the hardware makers in what amounts to a monopoly on that market.

There are a couple of corporations marketing Linux to niche markets, Red Hat and Novell being the two big ones, but for the most part Linux is and always has been more of a community project and as such will likely never become "mainstream". And frankly, I hope it never does as I feel that it would destroy Linux as we know it.

on Feb 12, 2007
Heh...I use Windows and I've never really had any issues with it. Well, except those stupid errors that apparently appear out of the blue for no reason. Overall, though, it's been a decent system...

As for that little discussion up there, it doesn't seem like you did anything wrong...that "asshat" just wanted to screw with someone apparently.

~Zoo
on Feb 12, 2007
that "asshat" just wanted to screw with someone apparently.


Yeah, maybe he confused his Preparation H with his toothpaste.
on Feb 12, 2007
The primary reason is marketing. "Linux" has no large corporation out there marketing it to the masses, and Microsoft has pretty much locked


In the words of Benjamin (Short Circuit). Bimbo!
on Feb 12, 2007
on Feb 12, 2007
Ha, the poor widdle fanboy took offence at being called what he is. You did no wrong, mate, just identified yet another geek in the system (and I'm not trying to insult geeks either - I'm one myself)
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