Hey, I’m Famous
I saw a small upturn in my blog stats the other day and noticed that the moron who runs the Linux Hater’s site linked me. I’ve never wasted any time on that site (won’t was yours either by linking it) but I just spent about 2 minutes glancing over it. Why anyone would waste time ranting about Linux is beyond me. As everyone knows, Linux is an insignificant and flawed operating system unsuitable for anyone so what’s this guy afraid of?
The problem is that you have not read it. While he presents as a “linux hater”, one can tell from reading his blog that he actually uses linux much, if not most of the time. The comments he makes are almost always valid areas that linux and the distros need improvement in.
All of yall talk about “bug #1″, you want uptake of linux, and you want to spread free software. Then that means listening to your “opponents”. If you are only interested in the good things about linux, and Ubuntu or other distros, you will wonder another 4 years from now why Ubuntu hasn’t solved that first bug.
It is always a concern when someone wants to be critical of something and they have not even read the thing. That’s blind faith. Linux isn’t a religion, it is a technical project. So are all of the distros (with the exception perhaps of UbuntuCE/ME/SE). Stop acting like it.
Go over to his blog, Realize that he IS being FUNNY in a lot of cases. CALMLY analyze what he is saying. Then HONESTLY evaluate which of his comments are TRUE. Then non-religiously THINK about what can be done to correct those flaws in the various OSes.
And actually laugh at some of his stuff.
Since you are a several time “self proclaimed” Linux newbie, you obviously don’t get it.
_Linux Hater isn’t really a Linux hater. He is a LONG TIME user and developer trying to vent common frustrations_
If you actually read the blog, you’ll realize he is well versed longtime user of Linux frustrated with the same problems persisting that don’t persist in other places. The whole thing seems like a
If you think this is a flame it is not, you are just a bit misinformed. It is like saying , “OMG Barack Obama is black, I will never listen to him, he is so stupid and would make a bad president”. Open your eyes and read linux hater’s blog for what it is and that it is written entirely tongue in cheek just like fake steve jobs. If you think this is a flame and want to respond in kind, my blog is linked from the URL I left or shoot me an email.
The thing with him is that he has not ever been wrong so far.
I stand corrected, maybe. In a cursory glance at his site (and judging by the traffic he sent me) it seemed that he and his followers were the ones that didn’t “get it”.
I took everyone’s advice and spent some more time reading his blog and I have to say I’m not convinced I was wrong. His posts are inflammatory and I really don’t see how his comments are going to promote change. He may be a long time Linux user, but I’m a long time windows user and I can assure you if I were to rant on Windows it wouldn’t because I wanted to see it fix thing – it would be because I hate it.
However, lets assume you are right and he is open minded, being funny, and truly wanting to see Linux change for the better. Do you think his average reader holds the same beliefs/goals? If he is being sarcastic or tongue in cheek his readers don’t get it. His comments range from “dude you are so right; I hate Linux too” to “you’re just a mac fanboy” but mostly they are just agitated, aggressive responses. I don’t think I’m the one that needs to “calmly” analyze things.
For the record, I’m not a fanatic. I know Linux isn’t perfect – no OS is. I know there are problems with in-fighting in the community. I know there are areas that can be improved. What frustrates me is when people, and not really pointing at anyone in particular, blame Linux for failings that really are outside the control of those developing and using Linux. The prime example is hardware compatibility. What you call fanaticism is noting more than a belief that the FLOSS model is inherently a good idea – not that it currently manifests itself in some perfect way. It’s a journey that will never end but I do think we are the right path. Frost refers to taking the path less traveled, and I think that is what Linux is, and for me it has made “all the difference.”
@Jeff – you’re right. I should stop calling myself a Linux noob. I’ve been using Linux now for three years and I am more competent with Linux than I ever was after more than a decade as a windows user. I guess I keep doing that because I know I still have a lot to learn. However, to say that I don’t get it shows a real lack of understanding about who I am – or perhaps a failure on my part to clearly define myself.
You are correct that his followers/users generally don’t get it. 99% of the comments on the blog are stupid, ignorant trolls that thinks LH is for real, and want to join in on a good old internet bashing.
Don’t bother with them, but do bother with a lot of the main posts. We are many who wonder who this guy is, or if it’s actually a collective, since the in-depth technical knowledge in some posts are so diverse and so impressive. Doesn’t matter, but the true subtitle should be “Linux Lover’s”. But that wouldn’t have made this kind of impact.
I gotta say I enjoy reading LH, one of my top feeds. Sure his rants are inflammatory and brash, but behind that thin veil of linux-bashing is a person who actually knows what they are talking about. While umpteen million blogs represent us lusers (a term of LH’s that I actually find endearing) and linux fanboyism in general, we nearly all fail to point out real problems that need attention. (We like to highlight quirks and points of excellence instead). If anything criticism was due, I would ask LH to follow what Jono Bacon said once (i think it was Jono). Anytime you point out a problem, point out a solution too.
[...] maker plays a Linux tune” e “Mexico City Says Hola to Linux“, via “Jim Hutchinson: Hey, I’m Famous“ [...]
Cos’hanno in comune la Ernie Ball e Città del Messico? « pollycoke :) said this on September 28, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I laugh at LH and everyone who worships him, because Linux already has enough bashers and smartasses. Yet, only less than 5% of those people actually know what to do and do it.
It explains why are there so many crappy open-source projects too. Everyone thinks they’re the ones who know how to do it. In reality, only few make a quality product, so only few -really- know what are they doing.
I’m glad that other people already came to LH’s defense – I, also, was going to clue you in. Some of his posts are very inflammatory, but it truly is a veil. Some of his posts are very thoughtful and pointed.
It isn’t his place necessarily to get down in the trenches and fix all the problems he’s pointing out, either. He probably contributes to some software projects, and almost certainly works for an industry that promotes the state of computing. However, the Free Software world is far too large to fix as many problems as you can find – especially when they are very entrenched and systemic. This is where LH comes in – as a critic, he points out shortcomings and makes people think.
That being said, he is human and I don’t always enjoy his writing or agree with him. However, his blog (and archive!) is worth an honest read.
The problem is that a lot of foss is just crap. Just like a lot of proprietary software is crap. Technically, he is mostly not ranting against Linux (the kernel) but against Linux on the desktop. There are a LOT of issues out there that devs just IGNORE.
FOSS devs take the attitude that you should like it THEIR way. They are always reinventing useless crap while at the same time saying..ALL THE TIME.. dont reinvent the wheel. Yet they do that anyhow. Then, if you do not like their implementation and decide to do it right, THATs the reinvention.
Look, MS and Apple got a LOT of shit right. A lot. There also are problems. But as much as you are for Freedom in software, it is like freedom in economics, doesn’t matter two shakes if you can’t eat. Starving to death is not freedom. In software, when a user has to spend an enormous amount of time fixing things, or getting the OS to work, they are NOT getting work done.
That really is one of the main points of LHB.
You want SERIOUS uptake to fix “bug #1?” then you have to start listening to users. It’s all been said before, common user interfaces, settings easy to find, STOP moving things. I could list a shitload of things that need changed and improved but why should I when LHB does it so well, and gives a great laugh to boot. A laugh for folks though who don’t take their OS as a religious choice and can actually handle criticism.
These types of posts would not be needed if the developer community was actually listening to users though.
I don’t know. I don’t see LH as any sort of Linux promoter. It’s easy to complain and find fault. It’s much harder to do something about it. If there is evidence other than everyones supposition that he contributes please share. From what I can tell he just bashes, inflames and encourages others to do the same. That is not worthy of the praise some of you give him.
Voicing the frustrations we all feel is just stating the obvious. If he also contributes back then great. However, just because one uses Linux doesn’t make one a supporter. Many people use windows but will bash it left and right. They don’t like it but are stuck with it. Maybe the same is true for him.
Here is a test. Is there some even small percentage of Linux devs who find his site useful and look to him for suggestions on what to fix next?
I’d say your rebuttal links actually prove him right. Any stories of Linux success on desktops, specially on consumer desktops? I thought so.
The thing is, this guy is actually pointing out why Linux will never be more than a blip on the radar. There’s no coordination, no communication, no vision to make a decent, usable desktop OS, and no acknowledgment that political and management problems can not be solved by writing more and more lines of code.
Ten years from now, people will still talk about The Year Of Desktop Linux as a thing to come someday… and blame Microsoft, of course, instead of looking themselves in the mirror.
Why not link to LH’s original post?
The BloggerTubes are supposed to be a conversation. When you hide links, you make it hard for your readers to understand your point of view, and the PoV of others.
If you don’t want to give him a higher pagerank, you can use a rel=”nofollow”.
T. Schaffer nailed it right on the fuckin’ head.
He IS contributing. Whether he codes or not is irrelevant. And that is EXACTLY the problem that the distros and “communities” suffer from. If someone compliments you that’s fine. Otherwise the only contribution is code.
The point of a distro is not that EVERYONE should become coders. MS doesn’t believe that. Apple doesnt believe that. That is why they are wiping their asses with our philosophy. Being FOSS or gratis is NOT good enough. The software HAS TO WORK. There HAS to be decisions made that the benevolent dictators are not making. Were they to do so so, there would be bitchin’ in the community, not acknowledgment that things are broken and need fixed.
If change does not occur you will still be at a 1% margin. What things? The idea that if you do not like something, then YOU should code the fix. As long as that is the belief, NON CODERS will not be interested AS A GROUP. Sure a handful here and there. But those handful will MOSTLY be folks that are supported by a tech who knows this shit.
A businessman doesn’t have time to spend all day fiddling with some stupid setting in gnome just to get a minor thing working. READ his blog and STOP WORRYING about HOW he is saying things. Instead ask yourself IS HIS STATEMENT TRUE?
Shit needs fixed in all the distros. But most of yens are more concerned with being praised for the stuff that barely works.
And let’s stop blaming the hardware manufacturers because MOST OF THE TIME the hardware can be made to work. But it is a PAIN IN THE ASS. I have to compile drivers, I have to set useless crap. WHY can’t it just be recognized? OBVIOUSLY the drivers EXIST or I would not be able to compile them.
Ubuntu is getting there in some respects but in others it takes steps back. A new release ALWAYS screws something serious up. Honestly the last one was for me the worst ever. And for a lot of other folks. I know folks for whom it was the best ever. And bully for them, I’m glad. But my point here is stuff that WAS working, suddenly STOPPED working. THAT is unacceptable.
READ his stuff, and say..ok IF he is right about THIS issue (or THAT issue) then we need to FIX IT and STOP BOOHOOING that someone didn’t say it JUST RIGHT. Microsoft hears these types of rants and is trying to FIX things. (Not doing a terribly good job of it, but guess what, yens aint either.)
T. Schaffer, if you have analyzed what the LH fellow is saying correctly then that is the reason why the author here is correct,for what LH is saying according to you is totally asinine.
If you keep abreast with what is happening in the Linux world you would have noticed that many important devs are well aware of what needs to be fixed and are doing so, every operating system requires time to make them better Linux is no different
Go over to Phoronix, they have informative updates on things happening to Linux and also take a look at Google Summer Of Code pages and you may get a glimpse of what is happening, providing you are smart enough
Some years ago they said Linux would not be anywhere near what it is on the Desktop today, i can say i am a former Windows user who had become sick and tired of the lack of vision of Microsoft and I am happily Using Linux on the desktop and having a much better experience with a decent usable desktop contrary to what you are saying. Microsoft is helping out with the Linux effort too, with Vista of course, so who is blaming Microsoft for what?, Are they not the ones signing deals with Linux companies and threatening lawsuits? Is this your example of Linux being only a blip on the radar?
Stop promulgating your nonsense about Linux and its development,go read something about it, you may just be surprised.
You can not see the problems in the Proprietary desktop development environment because it is locked away from you, it does not mean they do not have problems too and big ones at that take a look at Vista.
For your information, Macintosh is also only a blip on the radar but it is successful,any OS being a blip on the radar,means a lot so stop fooling yourself.
All the operating systems are blips some are just bigger, all are threatening in their own ways, Linux is another choice, the movement is not out for desktop domination which is something most ignorant people seem to believe.
T. Schaffer, I don’t follow you. You point out that my links are all about business and none about desktop users and you draw the conclusion that no one uses Linux on the desktop? People don’t write about individual users; they write about business trends that impact individual users. Do you think everyone buying windows PCs in the 1990s had noting to do with the fact that there were all using them at work? If you want stories about Linux success on the desktop then read anything about Ubuntu. It continues to gain popularity in precisely that arena and its success is helping other grow as well. Dell is selling Ubuntu computers to home users as are smaller companies like System76. Still a blip? Sure it is but that blip represents millions of users. Wasn’t windows just a blip too back in the early 1990s?
It seems the consensus here is that LH is some sort of godsend because he bitches about the frustrations with Linux that impact us all. Yes, Linux isn’t perfect – thank you captain obvious.
So there are two ways to address this: bitch about it in a way that stirs up contempt or do something to promote change. Like I mentioned earlier, if LH is actually having a positive impact on Linux development then I am misinformed. If you feel this is the case then provide some evidence. Without evidence to the contrary I will stick to my belief that he isn’t helping and is more than likely hurting adoption and development.
And I’m not talking about coding. That is one way to help but not the only. I haven’t coded a single line, but I have spent a lot of time helping others use Linux. My efforts won’t solve any bugs but they will help create users which sends the message that Linux is important and that the needs of those users are also important.
When I read his blog I don’t get the impression that he is a frustrated but dedicated user of Linux. Does anyone have any evidence to suggest that he is actually trying to do anything other than hurt and undermine Linux?
I’m with you TheGrieve, LH is a great read, take it with a grain of salt. Hilerious at times. Check out what he’s really saying. Most of the time it’s not bashing linux, rather pointing out what he wishes linux could be. He certainly has the linux knowledge.