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From: stuart@apk.net (Stuart Krivis)
Newsgroups: alt.os.linux,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Questions about Linux vs. FreeBSD...
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 15:25:57 GMT
Organization: Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems, Inc.
Lines: 71
Message-ID: <30d6d193.4757713@news.apk.net>
References: <4ajc07$sb7@unix2.glink.net.hk> <4aob8v$s21@park.uvsc.edu> <4aq2l9$5u9@oink.cs.utexas.edu> <4atkva$cqi@park.uvsc.edu>
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In <4atkva$cqi@park.uvsc.edu>, Terry Lambert <terry@lambert.org> wrote:
>
> It is idiotic to try to compare such fluid entities for the
> benefit of fools who don't recognize the scope of fluidity
> and thus ask dumb questions like "which is better?", which
> can never be satisfactorily answered. If the fools think
> that the question has been answered, and thus they "know which
> is better", well, that simply proves that they are fools.
>
> This is called "the law of the excluded middle", and results
> from the fact that in asking the question, you have a hidden
> assumption of a Platonic mean: the implied certainty in the
> question that one *is* in fact "provably ontologically and
> epistimologically better than the other".
>
> Which is a fundamental logic flaw in the questioners model
> of how the world actually operates.
>
>
> Anything that is a rallying point will be implemented by the
> lagging camp. Anything that is not a rallying point will do
> nothing by create noise from opinion.
>
> Now do you understand why no one is seriously attempting to
> answer this critically stupid question?
I don't think that it has to be a stupid question at all.
Let's say someone knows nothing about Unix, and nothing about xBSD or
Linux. They've been hearing about these fantastic free operating systems
for some time now. They are really disappointed with all of the hoopla
over Win '95, and maybe they can't afford to buy the hardware needed to
run some of the commercial 32-bit OSes. They think it might be fun to
work with xBSD or Linux.
Now, they want to know which direction they should start out in - xBSD
or Linux? Which is better for me, as a beginner?
Personally, I picked Linux, but it was mainly a toss of the coin. I
certainly don't know enough about the two to debate the pros and cons of
running each. I have wondered myself which is "better."
To have you imply that I would be a fool for asking such a "stupid"
question is extremely insulting. I'm glad that the majority of the net
isn't as stuck-up as you seem to be.
Don't you think that you should just answer a question like this in a
nice way, so as to encourage the beginner? A smarmy, patronizing
put-down may boost your little ego, but it does nothing for the rest of
the world.
--
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