[NMLUG] Re: Re: consulting work available (Robert Delahunt)

[neosad1st at charter.net (Robert Delahunt)]

First response:
> From: Mike Garfias <mike@garfias.org>
> Jeez.  Who pissed in your wheaties?

Sorry, it says so in the Linux Advocacy FAQ.  I did not mean to sound 
demeaning or angry, because I'm not.  I help out in IRC and hear it there 
too.  I am only politely correcting this, since it's not right to use 
demeaning nicknames for Windows any more than it's right for them to do the 
same.  We might not like Windows, but we're using Linux by choice.  We need 
to be good examples of what computing and community can be, as much as is 
humanly possible.  If it's venting, people can vent in IRC.

Second response:
> From: Matt Grommes <matt@mattorama.net>
> Condescending much? You might have noticed this is a Linux mailing list
> and I don't think anybody is going to be offended and think worse of the
> community if somebody uses Doze for Windows, which isn't even a
> "demeaning nickname". Do your tisk-tisking and finger wagging in private.

First, I'm not condescending.  I was trying to be as polite as possible and 
only remind people of being an example.  I didn't mean to sound harsh.  
However, it is a demeaning nickname, among others.  Please refer to products 
by their proper (i.e. non-demeaning) name.  It's just as wrong for us to use 
"winblows" just as much as it is for them to use "linsucks".  And remember 
that no OS is perfect, so it's not like they can't find plenty to call us on.  
We should be examples, and polite.  Also, complaining is not professional, 
nor is name-calling.

Third response:
> From: Jude Gabaldon <jude@photon.health.unm.edu>
> SIR! YES! SIR!

Didn't mean to sound harsh, I gotta work on email etiquette too.

Fourth response:
> From: Wesley J Landaker <wjl@icecavern.net>
> If you want to be pedantic, it's "Microsoft?? Windows??" to you (although
> claiming "Windows" as a trademark is quite absurd). By the same token,
> that would be the "GNU/Linux Advocacy HOWTO", to you, unless you're
> talking about a specific kernel and none of the software that runs on
> top of it....
> ... or, we could just use every-day colloquial language that everybody
> understands, and call 'em 'doze and linux.

I know, it's supposed to have TM's and C's and such after it (for trademark 
and copyright, respectively), but I try to stay within normal keyboard-level 
characters (instead of going into the ASCII table, etc).  Still, I didn't 
mean to sound harsh or rude, but it's in the Linux Advocacy FAQ.  My goal was 
to remind us to be examples.  If I sound harsh (this goes for everyone), my 
apologies.

Fifth response:
> From: Don Wilde <Don@Silver-Lynx.com>
> What, ye who use the name neo-sadist casteth stones? Bite your tongue!
> At least I keep a mostly civil tongue in my head when I announce my
> opinions. You, as I remember, do not.

1) That nickname has been used by me since year 2000 on MSN chat.  People 
learn over time, but that's how everyone knows me.  2) I didn't mean to sound 
harsh or anything, but we need to be respectful.  It's in the Linux Advocacy 
FAQ.  If I sounded rude, I apologize, as that was not my intent.  My intent 
was to politely try to correct any perceived OS bashing.  Am I defending 
Windows?  No, I'm defending us, actually.  It's unprofessional to use 
name-calling.  This isn't really name calling, but it's just not 
professional.  Am I perfect? nope.
And yes I do tend to be a little harsh.  I'm learning email and net etiquette 
as well.  No one's perfect, and you have every right to correct me if I step 
out of line.  But that's the idea -- let's keep each other in line and 
respectful if possible.