Some observations for the deeply hurt, newbies etc.

First using GNU/Linux does not confer on u some heaven sent halo. U & I are going to be treated based solely on our reputations (bussiness, academic, social or otherwise) by bussiness organistaions. Infact using GNU/Linux will put u under great stress while dealing with various bussinesses because the people answering u have been honed into perfect zombies (my personal favourite is Orange).

Second all bussinesses exist to fatten the owners, managers and employees (weightage keeps shifting from time to time). All the other drivel that they spew is towards meeting this goal.If the managers are cunning they will manipulate things to get minimum flack and generally stay below the horizon of vociferous fringe groups shouting nonsense like freedom and morals and what have u. Redhat, Novell, IBM,M$, Oracle, Intel, U, I etc. are all fighting the same battle using different weapons and strategies. U & I are distractions in the battle of the big boyz for the booty.

Thirdly promoting GNU/Linux to the masses is at best a utopian pass time.The current set of GNU/Linux (5% of computer users) constitutes the top 1% of tech savvy (intelligent?) homosapiens. That is sufficient because it is this miniscule minority which always determines which way society will move in the long term - inspite of whatever M$ can throw.

One must be clear in accepting the FSF philosophy which is about freedom (or changing the ground rules) and the opensource philosophy which is about bussiness (or battle strategy).

Longterm social goals aimed at empowering individuals is anthema to any bussiness. Dealing with unpredictable imdividuals does not allow zombification of products and processes, which translates to high costs and withering margins to organistions, which reduces the need for large bussiness organisation.

A simple case in point. The neighbourhood tailor. He stitches a shirt which fits you well in a colour u like and with buttons that dont fall off when u sneeze at a very reasonable price. And the van heusen, peter london, Raymond or xyz brand - a few sizes, a few colors, and tons of mind bending ads - god what a incomplete AH u r if u did not wear that complete man outfit guaranteed to blow a tunnel thru ur pocket all the way to ur future bank vault. Or the pepsi, coke, caffiene-cocaine-pesticide laced water. What's wrong with nimbu pani?

But then i suppose it's just me not being a zombie.

jtd