Should arrogant, self-inportant people be encouraged to use Linux?
On Wed, Apr 11, 2001 at 04:08:25PM -0700, Karsten M. Self wrote:
> > > > > GNU/Linux is a grown-up's operating system. You're expected to know
> > > > > your way around, or be able to figure it out.
> > > >
> > > > I'm sorry, but the 'You're dumb or lazy or both' argument will not fly.
> > > > There is an easily-correctable problem with Linux, and I hope the good
> > > > people who devote so much time to Linux will see that.
> > >
> > > ...and what are you going to do to me personally if this isn't fixed.
> > >
> > > Sorry, again, you've had your question answered. Turns out I'd written
> > > a short guide addressing just the problem you had. There's a project
> > > underway to do what it is you're addressing. And there are several
> > > viewpoints challenging your assessment of the quality of the alternative
> > > -- the Legacy MS Windows help system -- you've identified.
> > >
> > > You're about -> <- this far away from hitting my killfile as timesink.
> > > Your future benefit from this list will suffer from your attitude.
> >
> > wow. i've never seen karsten this close to over-the-edge with
> > anybody. (at least we now know he's human, finally.)
>
> There's a really narrow grey zone.
>
> I usually give people one or two chances. Then it's "fool me twice,
> shame on me." Other behaviors don't even warrant that. Spam, vacation
> autoresponders, utterly rude or obnoxious behavior -- any email is four
> keystrokes away from my spam filter, which has...396 entries[1].
> There's plenty of room there. More often than not, this is an
> unremarked on event. Being an idiot gets you silently shitcanned, be
> warned.
>
> Which is part of the point -- those ignorant of the 'Net's ways may
> assume that all's fair and anything goes, with no consequences. Truth:
> reputations are made faster and easier than you can imagine, and once
> set, are very difficult to change. I shoot for firm but fair, speaking
> openly, and try to be informative. Feedback tends to say I'm doing a
> fair job. And, yes, I've benefitted directly from my online rep for
> much of the past ten years -- the 'Net is an awesome way for a bright
> kid in any backwood of the world to make a literally worldwide
> reputation. What reputation, and to what end, is his/her own affair.
>
> Kevin may have an outside shot of becoming housebroken. I wouldn't bet
> good money on it, but I'll throw a few bytes to the cause of his mortal
> soul.
>
Yay, another friendly soul giving Linux a bad name. No wonder the
stereotype of the arrogant, "1337" Linux user persists. A person who
initially posts an email with a valid complaint (lack of user-friendly
documentation) ends up getting a lecture from a self-important, arrogant
blowhard. Yes, you have an "online rep", and as far as I'm concerned, that
reputation is for generally being an ass. I've watched you display your
bloated sense of importance on this list for awhile now without saying
anything, but really, this is a bit much. You're right - reputations are
made quickly, and are tough to change. You may be skilled with Linux, but
you're still an ass, and that's a tough reputation to shake. I for one have
seen enough, and I'm sure there are at least a few others on this list who
feel the same. I think I'm being "firm but fair", and speaking openly, and
I've certainly given you plenty of chances to redeem yourself.
So, next time you feel the urge to impress everyone with threats of adding
people to your killfile with "four keystrokes", think about the impression
you are making. I have no respect for someone who has tons of skill and
talent (which you very well might), but a lousy personality.
Now, execute those four simple keystrokes and add me to your killfile.
I'll wear that fact proudly, as a badge of honor. :) My apologies for
posting something like this, but this email caught me on a particularly
bad day. /me waits for his reputation to be shot... Oh well. Hopefully
this will give people the courage to speak their minds on this list, without
the fear of being "silently shitcanned" for being an "idiot". Apparently
your definition of "idiot" is "one who dares to disagree with you". Fellow
idiots, unite!
Tom
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