Is Linux, or The Linux Community, A Cult ?

[Richard Asbridge]

So your name is Bill Gates?

LOL he said 50% not 150%

 

[Aldo Nova]

There are more than a few similarities between Linux and a typical
religious cult.

For example:

Both worship their leader.

Not really...

Both have a distended, warped view of their subject matter.

Not really. Linux is not better than Windows, and occasionally, WORSE. But
it's free and it does a lot, and it's getting better.

Both are
obsessed with something that most people know nothing about.

If you have ever used DOS, linux is not hard to figure out. Equate the
config files with batch files and X with Windows 3.11 running on DOS, and
you get a picture.

Both believe
that they are right and everyone else is wrong. Both insist on
proselytizing or converting every single person into the fold.
Um...OK.


Both have a warped view of the economy. IOW give everything away for free.
Both have socialistic tendencies.

LOL! I'm a Republican!!

Both seem to attract oddballs, social misfits and the mentally ill.

That's a bit far.

Both

encourage obsessive behavior and total devotion to the cause.

Nah...give me a decent Windows OS and I'll use it.


Both

disparage and try to discredit the mainstream or competition.

Well, the Mainstream usually sucks. Usually anything for the 'Mainstream'
is dumbed down for the lowest person. Like Vista.


Both have a

 

[Meat Plow]

There are more than a few similarities between Linux and a typical
religious cult.

For example:

Been using Linux for 11 years and I couldn't give a flying **** about
Linus Torvalds or anything else in you idiotic list.

 

[CBFalconer]

There are more than a few similarities between Linux and a typical
religious cult.

For example:

Both worship their leader.
Both have a distended, warped view of their subject matter.
Both are obsessed with something that most people know nothing about.
Both believe that they are right and everyone else is wrong.
Both insist on proselytizing or converting every single person into
the fold.
Both have a warped view of the economy. IOW give everything away for
free.
Both have socialistic tendencies.
Both seem to attract oddballs, social misfits and the mentally ill.
Both encourage obsessive behavior and total devotion to the cause.
Both disparage and try to discredit the mainstream or competition.
Both have a militaristic attitude of you are either with us 100
percent or against us.

..and so it goes.

It sure seems like Linux is a cult.

s/socialistic/robber baron/ and you have a fairly good description
of windows addicts.

--
<http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt>
<http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/423>

"A man who is right every time is not likely to do very much."
-- Francis Crick, co-discover of DNA
"There is nothing more amazing than stupidity in action."
-- Thomas Matthews

 

[Jim]

CBFalconer came up with this when s/he headbutted the keyboard a moment ago
in comp.os.linux.advocacy:

I worship nobody but myself.

I wouldn't say that. I do know that Linux empowers me to increased
productivity, which is why I use it in preference to a certain other
product which demands an entire 5%* of my working day in maintenance just
to try and prevent it from falling on its arse. Five percent of nine hours
is twenty seven minutes. At £65/hour, that's £28* or thereabout of my fee
spent sitting there waiting for shit to stop happening so I can /start/
work.

*MINIMUM!

and that's who's fault?

Too ****ing right.

I don't. I do believe in that last freedom we do have, that of free will. If
that freedom is seen as rebellion then so be it. I want to instill
rebellion in people, empower them to make their choices. If they choose
Microsoft, all power to them and I have no pity for them and I cannot and
will not not offer them any help whatsoever. IF they choose Linux, all
power to them and I will help wherever I am able, or find them a route to
the help they seek.

Um... no. That's not how it works at all and damn well you know it.
Free software has its price, and that is commercial support. Companies such
as Redhat and Novell give away their software (builds/distributions, call
it what you will) and make their money in support contracts with commercial
entities and individuals. This model works. IF you don't want to pay for
support, no problem. You are free to procure and use the software at zero
financial outlay beyond the hardware and your time.
Microsoft use underhand tactics to foist their software on users, including
but not limited to threatening OEMs, offering them sweet deals on
licensing, etc. This business model, although dead, is perpetuated by the
continued shilling of groups such as this and the continued ignorance of
technical advisors who a: should know better than to advise the deployment
of the enabler of 99.99% of all known malware, scams, frauds and
destructive viruses, and b: are more than likely inexperienced and/or
uneducated about alternative solutions in the first place, this being
mainly the fault of the people who trained /them/ being in turn, ignorant
of those same alternative solutions.

Please define this as you see it. I keep seeing this bandied around by
people who very obviously have no idea what "socialist" actually means to
an economic or political discussion. Hint: socialism has no place in a
religious discussion, which is what I'm assuming is going on here.

Thank you

Misfit? I have more social partners than I can count. I still only count
three close friends, and God isn't one of them: myself, my wife and the one
man I would trust to stand behind me with a rifle in his hand.

Speak for yourself. Is paranoia a diagnosed mental illness?

Read: Ballmer.
"I'm gonna ****ing kill Google!"
One of many quotes.

Read: Gates
Ballmer
Microsoft's marketing department

No Linux distributor has to this day directly compared Linux to Microsoft's
operating system in an independent public benchmark. Microsoft's software
license agreements SPECIFICALLY FORBID IT.

One has to wonder why.

Read: Bush, G. W., POTUS
Quotes freely available via Google.

To answer that comment directly: you have choice. Free will. Use it. It's
the last freedom you have.

You're just ****ing paranoid.
Not to mention, scared shitless that someone other than your sugar daddy at
Microsoft actually appears to be doing something right and beneficial to
home computing instead of grubbing out every penny he can squeeze from the
consumer at the expense of his rights and security.

s/socialistic/robber baron/ and you have a fairly good description
of windows addicts.

Sorry to piggyback but the OP seems to have already been buried in my
killfile and I just felt I had to respond.

HAND

--
-*- Linux Desktops & Clustering Solutions -*- http://dotware.co.uk
-*- Registered Linux user #426308 -*- http://counter.li.org
-*- Once upon a midnight dreary, as I porn-searched, weak and weary,
o'er many a strange and spurious site of hot XXX galore.
But when I clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning,
and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my lost amore.
"'Tis not possible," I muttered, "give me back my free hardcore!"
Quoth the server: "404"
-*- Disclaimer:
By sending an email to ANY of my addresses you are agreeing that:
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2. All information in the email is mine to do with as I see fit and make
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3. I may take the contents as representing the views of your company.
4. This overrides any disclaimer or statement of confidentiality that may
be included on your message.

 

[Captain Dondo]

V Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:38:24 -0500, Meat Plow napsal(a):

Been using Linux for 11 years and I couldn't give a flying **** about
Linus Torvalds or anything else in you idiotic list.

Ever study Zen Buddhism? One of the masters once said, "If you see the
Buddha and he stands in the way of your enlightenment, kill him."

So it is with Linux. Anyone who doesn't keep up with the vicious,
relentless competition for developers and users, fails.

I use quite a bit of closed source software, even well-regarded software,
and I am constantly amazed at the really poor quality, shoddy programming,
and buggy implementation. And the fact that there is no way to report
bugs, and the developers are completely unresponsive to *any* sort of
feedback.

(Yes I am a bit frustrated having wasted most of the day chasing a really
idiotic bug in a "well regarded" package, to wit the morons that
programmed it decided that if the device you want to talk to is not on
your subnet, well, just create a virtual if on that subnet.... WTF? Every
time I start the software, my winXP workstation gets knocked off the
network.)

--Yan

 

[Jamie Hart]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in @j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com:

Oh yes you will...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=linux+zealot+cult&btnG=Google+Search

Results 1 - 10 of about 24,500 for linux zealot cult. (0.09 seconds)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=windows+zealot+cult&btnG=Search

Results 1 - 10 of about 52,800 for windows zealot cult. (0.09 seconds)

So, when did you join the Windows cult? Do you have to shave your head, or
just hand over your computer to anyone on the internet?

 

[Jamie Hart]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in @k78g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

No it doesn't.
Where is a Microsoft advocacy group that has anywhere near the
traffic, or number of oddballs that comp.os.linux.advocacy has?

Yep, There's you for a start. What could be more oddball than a windows
advocate in a linux advocacy group?

The Windows advocacy group is dead.

Of course it is, you're all over here trying to pretend that linux is
unimportant whilst proving the oposite by your presence.

I have quite a bit of knowledge of the wackjobs in the Linux
community.

Go on then, prove it.

This should be interesting.

<snip personal attacks on a linux user>

 

[zentara]

There are more than a few similarities between Linux and a typical
religious cult.

For example:
It sure seems like Linux is a cult.

P.S. Feel free to add to the list!!

How about adding National Security to the list, you dumbass
Microsoft flunky.

Widespread use of Microsoft products threaten our National Security.
Read this:
http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/438?ref=rss

<quote>
The majority of targeted Trojan horse attacks, which typically use flaws
in Microsoft Office as an attack vector
</quote>


Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, said that Microsoft was a threat
to National Security back in the anti-trust trial, and ordered it's
breakup. Then Bush got elected and cancelled it. You have to wonder what
sort of patriot Bush is, when he will comprimise the integrity of the US
internet for a campaign contribution.

http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2003-09-25-014-26-NW-MS-SW&reply=0019

Read the findings yourself:
http://usvms.gpo.gov/ms-findings2.html


So go ahead use Microsoft, and help the enemy.

zentara

 

[chrisv]

There are more than a few

*plonk*

 

[relic]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in @j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com:

Results 1 - 10 of about 24,500 for linux zealot cult. (0.09 seconds)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=windows+zealot+cult&btnG=Search

Results 1 - 10 of about 52,800 for windows zealot cult. (0.09 seconds)

So, when did you join the Windows cult? Do you have to shave your
head, or just hand over your computer to anyone on the internet?

Learn to search for exact phrases:
Web Results 1 - 1 of about 5 for "linux zealot cult".

Your search - "windows zealot cult" - did not match any documents.

Followups restored.

 

[Ignoramus1582]

It is a cult because linux is omnipotent (at least compared to
impotent Windows). I pray every day that I stay computer virus free,
and my Linux deity is delivering...

Hacked windows computers (zombies) are rented out to spammers for
about 15 cents... That's how many of them are out there...

i

 

[Rob Hughes]

There are more than a few similarities between Linux and a typical
religious cult.

For example:

Both worship their leader.

I don't worship anyone.

Both have a distended, warped view of their subject matter.

Evidence? Linux works, and it better than other OSen in most situations. So
unless you can prove otherwise, bugger off.

Both are obsessed with something that most people know nothing about.

I'm hardly obsessed. You seem to have spent more time on this post than I
spend thinking about linux on most days.

Both believe that they are right and everyone else is wrong.

But I have evidence on my side

Both insist on proselytizing or converting every single person into
the fold.

I don't give two shites what you run on your computer.

Both have a warped view of the economy. IOW give everything away for
free.

I do support. Companies pay 2500 US per day (plus expenses) to get me on
site. I'd hardly call that "giving away" my services.

Both have socialistic tendencies.

The linux community is entirely unlike socialism/communism. It's a
meritocracy. Do try to learn something about the thing you're going to
insult before trying to insult it. Otherwise, you just end up looking like
an ass. Ass.

Both seem to attract oddballs, social misfits and the mentally ill.

Yeah, you showed up here, so I guess you've proved your own point.

Both encourage obsessive behavior and total devotion to the cause.

Uhm, pardon?

Both disparage and try to discredit the mainstream or competition.

You have the linux community confused with MS. We point out facts, not FUD.

Both have a militaristic attitude of you are either with us 100
percent or against us.

There's a few like that. Poor, sad, souls. But there are those like that in
every crowd.

..and so it goes.

It sure seems like Linux is a cult.

It seems like your right nutters.

P.S. Feel free to add to the list!!

meh

Well, this was fun, but you're a poor troll. Not to mention that this has
been posted about 9-bazillion times. -5 for originality, 0 for initiative.
Overall, a very poor attempt.

 

[Joe User]

No it doesn't.
Where is a Microsoft advocacy group that has anywhere near the
traffic, or number of oddballs that comp.os.linux.advocacy has?

The Windows advocacy group is dead.

Then count me in with the millions of Windows users who don't advocate
using Windows. I feel the same way, except that I don't use Windows.

 

[Aldo Nova]

No it doesn't.
Where is a Microsoft advocacy group that has anywhere near the traffic, or
number of oddballs that comp.os.linux.advocacy has?

The Windows advocacy group is dead.

Because nobody's advocating it anymore?

 

[Jamie Hart]

Learn to search for exact phrases:

Why? I was following the same search method as the original poster.

Web Results 1 - 1 of about 5 for "linux zealot cult".

And they all point the the comments by one poster on OSnews.com.

Yeah, that'll show me. I feel crushed that you can point out that there's
two windows using idiots on the whole of the internet that use the term.

Your search - "windows zealot cult" - did not match any documents.

So it would seem Linux users aren't inclined to insult their opposition
as much as the windows using idiots are.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Followups restored.

and reset.

 

[Steve]

The racist, liar and software thief Gary Stewart (flatfish) nymshifted:

< snip flatfish droppings >

Poor flatfish. So stupid. And so wrong

Opinion; you failed to refute the argument on a point-by-point basis.

And naturally, crossposting like mad into non-relevant groups

Isn't that what people are _supposed_ to do on Usenet?

Most imposters and juvenile delinquents who lack genuine skills are
psychologically threatened by honest competition. Microsoft is no
surprise here, as are numerous other high-profile examples.


Regards,

Steve

 

[Steve]

s/socialistic/robber baron/ and you have a fairly good description
of windows addicts.

..... and all the usual suspects.


Regards,

Steve

 

[larry]

There are more than a few similarities between Linux and a typical
religious cult.

You mean like Microsoft has? Though siunce it''s well funded it
probably is considered more of an "oragnized religion"

For example:

Both worship their leader.

Hail Bill Gates! Steve is the Bomb!

Both have a distended, warped view of their subject matter.

MSN Network, Microsoft NBC, Micosoft Live, etc.

Both are obsessed with something that most people know nothing about.

That DRM stuff is going to save all of us for generations to come!

Both believe that they are right and everyone else is wrong.

ODF sucks, you should use Open XML, cause it's OUR standard and that
makes it the right one!

Both insist on proselytizing or converting every single person into the fold.

Kids in 3rd world countries should get (legally licensed) MS Windows
CE enabled computers (ok, at a slight discount).

Both have a warped view of the economy. IOW give everything away for free.

You mean like they did With Internet Explorer on Windows and Mac?

Both have socialistic tendencies.

Share your code and ideas with us and we will support you by
pateneting them.

Both seem to attract oddballs, social misfits and the mentally ill.

Look for any replies on this thread using the F word and other abusive
slang.

Both encourage obsessive behavior and total devotion to the cause.

Lock-in baby, Lock-in!

Both disparage and try to discredit the mainstream or competition.

Google sucks, use MSN Live; iPod sucks Zune is better because it can
transmit files (well some files anyway)

Both have a militaristic attitude of you are either with us 100 percent or against us.

Are your licenses up to date? I have the BSA on speed dial...

 

[relic]

Because nobody's advocating it anymore?

No, like all advocacy groups; too many arseholes.