[Discuss] Community out-reach... convert the masses?

[slitt at troubleshooters.com (Steve Litt)]

markw at mohawksoft.com said on Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:16:28 -0500

>I guess the question is this: Can we help non-nerds be Linux users? As
>a "user's group" shouldn't we help generate new users? Historically
>speaking, I don't think there has ever been more user friendly linux
>distros and better interoperability and usability.

When you say non-nerds, I'm assuming you mean technophobes who take it
as a matter of faith that they can't use an editor, can't modify a
config file, can't write a simple shellscript, can't issue a command on
the command line, and are proud of these facts. The type who proudly
exclaims "I am not a programmer" when talk turns to using a text
editor. They're proud of their ignorance, and refuse to learn. Assuming
that, to answer your question about whether we can help them be Linux
users...

We can. But we shouldn't. For the past 25 years, recruiting these
"non-nerd" users has been the excuse for making Linux ever more
complexificated, to the point where interchangeable parts, the step up
that led to the Industrial Revolution, is now very difficult in Linux.
POSIX? Poettering himself said POSIX is no good. Do one thing and do it
well? That's soooooo 1999.

But let me tell you what's *really* 1999: Seeking the triumph of the
Linux desktop. I was there in those heady days when Linux was a
revolution, not an OS. We were going to displace Windows and Mac. And
you know what? On the server we succeeded. On the desktop? Not even
close. If we haven't "won" on the desktop in 25 years, it's doubtful we
ever will. And that's just fine with me.

Desktop Windows serves a purpose in the Linux ecosystem. It keeps the
lazy, "I refuse to learn simple shellscripts" people off our mailing
lists, so our computing lives don't get watered down. Linux is the
place for people who want to boss their computers, not for people who
want their computers to boss them.

Please listen closely to the following distinction: The preceding
several paragraphs were about people who are proudly ignorant of
editors, command line, config files and simple shellscripts. Windows
users who want to have more control over their computing environment,
and are eager to use editors, command line, config files and simple
shellscripts, should be welcomed with open arms, and given an assist
until they come up to our level of Linux use and knowledge.

>Can anyone imagine a Windows 10 user actually converting to Linux?

Absolutely. I quit win98 to move to Linux. Plenty of others are like
me. There are a hell of a lot of reasons to hate Windows, and
Linux dispenses with almost all of those reasons. But here again, the
distinction: They needn't come to us until they're dam sick of Windows
"my way or the highway" workflow. If they're happy with Windows, they
have no business using Linux.

SteveT

Steve Litt 

http://444domains.com