[ubuntu-in] Correction in mentioning linux (Please mention it as gnu/linux)

[Ramnarayan.K]

On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 12:21 AM, Manish Sinha <mail at manishsinha.net> wrote:
>
> On 01/26/2011 06:52 PM, Ganesan Venkata Subramanian wrote:
>>
>> Hello All
>>
>> It is observed in the ML that every body is using the term LINUX instead of GNU/LINUX. Its should be corrected because GNU represents the GNU utils running over the LINUX Kernel. So we should attribute our credit to both the parts which makes such a beautiful OS. Hope this will be followed.
>
> This has always been a huge debate.
> I think I should start referring it as GNU/X/Compiz/Gnome/Linux instead of Linux.
>
> This old age discussion is fruitless. There are more important things to be done than debating what term to use.
> Everyone who cares already knows that Linux contains a lot of GNU software. Those who don't care, will well never care.
>

Well said Manish

in fact my one liner was not meant as a neighborly suggestion it was
to point out at the absurdity of the whole thing.

There is a constituency of folks - who feel that legally Linux is
GNU/Llinux - therefore lets say we accept that they may have a point.

However what we call something does not always reflect its real name ,
we all go around calling our country (India in this case)  India , the
Indian team, India this, India that. But is this India's full name -
nope we are actually called,  to be very accurate, as  resolved in the
constitution "the Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic of
India",  while the favored official name is  "the Republic of India".
Take your pick.

Now lets all start writing and talking about this as the correct
name(s) and lets get on with complicating our lifes. because naming
things in full does not mean its more accurate or more known.

Do you which country is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
imagine if every country in the world had such long and fancy names -
we would have a terrible time forget the waste of bandwidth, paper
space and generally nonsense.

Coming back to Linux - what exactly is the correct legal name - i am
not sure and am not sure i even want to know esp if its going to be
something like Manish suggests - apart from everything else i think
the name itself will drive away 50 % of the new comers.

so to repeat its important to know our origins (both country and OS)
but we don't need burn blood over it.

At this point i want to differentiate between politically incorrect
language that propound deep seated differences - be they gender,
caste, colour etc. That language is not acceptable not because it may
be illegal but because it promotes strife and enforces a kind of
mindset. Calling Linux isn't that.

ram