[wellylug] (no subject)

[Donald Gordon]

On 14/04/2004, at 2:43 PM, Sam Cannell wrote:

> One thing that I'm *dead against* is actively evangelising Linux or to
> businesses.  This is something that I'm dead against.  Sure, if 
> somebody
> comes to the group asking for advice on migrating from Windows to 
> Linux,
> then we should give them all the help they need.  But pushing people 
> who
> may not fully understand the implications of moving to a new OS is, in
> my opinion, utterly irresponsible.

This depends on what you mean by "evangelising".  Suggesting to 
businesses that they use Linux for some specific use, supported by 
someone with sufficient clue, is IMHO not the same as saying "bah!  
windows!  netware!  just wipe your disks and install Mandrake (or 
whatever), and everything will be wonderful!".  I have nothing against 
suggesting to a business that they use a tool which is the right one 
for the job, and which they can obtain adequate support for.  But this 
usually requires a relationship with the business concerned which the 
LUG is unlikely to have.

That being said, there are people out there who have heard of Linux and 
want to try it, but don't have anyone to help - if they never hear 
about WellyLUG, they'll probably just muddle around and possibly break 
their system and decide that Linux is therefore crap.  Of course, most 
of them aren't businesses.

> Above everything else, it comes down to personal preference.  That's
> right guys - and make sure you're sitting down here - some people 
> prefer
> using Windows.  Just because somebody's OS of choice *is* Windows, it
> doesn't mean they're wrong, just that their tastes are different than
> yours.

Exactly!  And if I don't have to support or interoperate with your 
systems, then I really don't care *at all* what they run.  Of course, 
if I do have to support or interoperate

donald