[CoLoCo] Appropriateness of posts to this list (Was Re: evince crash)

[TJ Heaney]

Ubuntu is great
Noobs must learn to fly solo
but don't be a douche

:)

On Dec 6, 2007 9:58 AM, David L. Willson <DLWillson at thegeek.nu> wrote:

> There's always a reason.  Rough love should not be called to account, when
> it comes with
> valuable gifts.  Users (including me) really are whiny bitches sometimes.
>  We could all
> learn to speak more politely.
>
> Twenty bucks to the author of the best haiku expressing these ideas.
>
> On Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:39:20 -0700, Kevin Fries wrote
> > This was in response to one of the Ubuntu MOTOs degrading the one of the
> > end users for complaining that they (end users) are not getting listened
> > to.  I don't like to talk about people behind their backs, and I
> > mentioned some of the efforts we have been talking about here.  So, I
> > thought I would cc the copy to you guys.
> >
> > On Thu, 2007-12-06 at 09:36 -0700, Kevin Fries wrote:
> > > On Wed, 2007-12-05 at 22:13 -0500, Scott Kitterman wrote:
> > > > For those of us who are volunteers (most of us), the compromise is
> > > > someone has to convince me it's worth my time to bother.  So I'd say
> > > > the other way around.  The users who want volunteers to actually do
> > > > free work for them need to be convincing why I should be bothered
> > > > (hint: threatening to switch back to Windows doesn't motivate me at
> > > > all).
> > >
> > > If you need motivation from external sources, then maybe you are
> > > misdirecting your efforts.  I am not trying to be mean here, but I use
> > > and advocate Linux for many reasons.  Nobody has to motivate me to do
> > > so.  I do so because I believe in the platform, and I want it to
> > > succeed.  I want it to succeed for selfish as well as altruistic
> > > reasons.  Many unpaid hours are spent helping someone get started, not
> > > because I need to be convinced to do so.  I do so because I want
> Ubuntu
> > > to succeed, I want Linux to succeed.  And I am not alone.  Many of the
> > > local Colorado Local Group, are looking for ways to provide help desks
> > > to noobs, to get more CDs out, or even get cards out pointing the
> > > uninitiated to online resources.  None of them are paid either.  Nor
> do
> > > any of them need to be convinced to do so.  They do so for the same
> > > reason I do... Because it is what is needed to be done.
> > >
> > > There seems to be this growing trend in the Ubuntu community lately,
> and
> > > I am pretty sure that it is an all bad thing.  The developers, not all
> > > but a growing number, seem to think Ubuntu is their baby.  The sweat
> of
> > > their brow, and therefore, only successful because of what they do.
> > > While I will be the first to say that these voices are still the great
> > > minority, they are getting louder.  And diminish the fantastic work
> done
> > > by so many.
> > >
> > > There are many ways to contribute to a project such as Ubuntu.  I have
> > > offered programming skills, and was treated quite rudely buy certain
> > > members of the programming community.  They were extremely territorial
> > > and condescending towards my efforts.  I have since decided to focus
> my
> > > efforts elsewhere.
> > >
> > > The comments above are exactly the attitude we need to guard against.
> > > In my current day job, I design state of the art hand-held
> computerized
> > > devices.  Because of my advocacy here, fewer and fewer of those
> machines
> > > are being considered for Windows Mobile.  Because of my efforts here,
> > > Windows Mobile is no longer mentioned when new projects come up.  That
> > > takes my faith in the project, and the developers ability to deliver
> > > that project.  Without the developers, my faith is misplaced.  Without
> > > my advocacy, the developers efforts are purely academic.  I am no
> more,
> > > or no less important than the developer, and I expect to be treated
> with
> > > the same respect.  Not looked down upon so some developer can find
> > > motivation.
> > >
> > > In addition to my day job, I am getting a business off the ground.
>  This
> > > business is designed to bring real, solid, Linux based networking
> > > solutions to the small and medium-small based business.  A market
> > > segment that Linux has not had much success with in the past, and
> > > Microsoft is pandering to.  Bringing Linux to a brand new market
> segment
> > > is not easy.  However, I think by doing so, I can build a successful
> > > business, allow small businesses to better compete, and advance the
> > > Linux and Ubuntu cause.  But I do not degrade the efforts of others to
> > > justify why I do this.  Eau contraire mon frer, I praise them.  For if
> > > it was not for all that they do, I could not concentrate on resolving
> > > the businesses issues.
> > >
> > > I know that not everybody on this board is American, but one thing
> that
> > > every American child learns in history class is in regards to the
> > > American Civil War.  The north finally prevailed with a tactic of
> divide
> > > and conquer.  We learn the slogan "United we stand, divided we fall"
> > > quoted by Thomas Jefferson (attributed as far back as Aesop).  And
> > > Abraham Lincoln's paraphrase of that statement "A house divided
> against
> > > itself cannot stand" (one of the great speeches of all time).  Ubuntu
> is
> > > strong when we all listen to each other, give each other respect, and
> > > stop trying to claim that my problems are more important than your
> > > problems.  EVERYONE, end user, advocate, consultant, developer, or
> even
> > > the businessperson that uses Linux for his/her operating system of
> > > choice, is in this together.  Or else, we can tear each other apart.
> > >
> > > It is time to come together, shut our mouths, and listen to the other
> > > sides.  It is time to do this so that all of our efforts can be
> > > maximized, and focused on the common good.  It time to stop using the
> > > word me (also meant in the metamorphic sense such as end user, or
> > > developer) and start using the word us.
> > >
> > > Thats just my $0.02
> > >
> > > --
> > > Kevin Fries
> > > Senior Linux Engineer
> > > Computer and Communications Technology, Inc
> > > A Division of Japan Communications Inc.
> > >
> > --
> > Kevin Fries
> > Senior Linux Engineer
> > Computer and Communications Technology, Inc
> > A Division of Japan Communications Inc.
> >
> > --
> > Ubuntu-us-co mailing list
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>
>
> David L. Willson
> Trainer/Engineer/Consultant
> MCT, MCSE, Linux+
> (720) 333-LANS
>
>
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