Linux, what are our objectives?

[markw-FJ05HQ0HCKaWd6l5hS35sQ at public.gmane.org]

> On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 8:37 AM,  <markw-FJ05HQ0HCKaWd6l5hS35sQ at public.gmane.org> wrote:
>> So the question I have is this: is [K]ubuntu really the direction in
>> which
>> we as a community wish to see Linux go?
>
> KDE != Linux. Don't conflate the two.
>
> Sorry to be a bit abrupt, but this is a common mistake and starts a
> bunch of conversations that don't really relate to Linux at all.

I'm sorry, but you missed the point of the post. Yes, I know KDE != Linux,
and yes I know that [k]ubuntu != Linux. I've been using Linux since 1995.
I got the memo.

The point I was making, and using the latest Kubuntu as an example, is the
dumbing down of the GUI's on top of Linux (GNOME is equally guilty), where
they are actually *removing* functionality. Even good old Linus dislikes
this trend.

Just a side note: having a snarky teen, I have learned that anyone can
avoid a thoughtful discussion by merely being pedantic, by purposely or
obliviously ignoring the intended point of a discussion and focusing only
on some perceived (or manufactured) flaw in the premise or articulation.
Then the discussion can quickly be side-tracked to a (sometimes heated)
semantic argument that accomplishes nothing. For meaningful discussion to
actually happen, the sides need to be polite and attempt to understand and
evaluate what each are saying. Otherwise, it becomes clear that the
intention is not communication but the obstruction of it.