[LINK] Re: Unix {Was: Looking for some Web server statistics]

[Craig Sanders]

On Mon, Aug 06, 2001 at 03:05:15PM +1000, hartr@redhat.com wrote:
> On  6 Aug, Craig Sanders wrote:
> > On Mon, Aug 06, 2001 at 10:23:20AM +1000, hartr@redhat.com wrote:
> >> When talking about Linux, there is a real problem if the distinction is
> >> not made. Linux is most definitely a COMMERCIAL operating system, but it
> >> is likelwise most definitely not PROPRIETARY.
> > 
> > wrong.
> > 
> > there are several non-commercial, non-proprietary linux distributions
> > around. the most obvious example is, of course, Debian GNU/Linux.
> > 
> > "redhat" may be a commercial operating system, but "linux" isn't. even
> > for redhat, it's more accurate to call it a "commercial redistribution
> > of linux & tools" than a "commercial operating system".
> 
> You are failing to grasp the point that Linux being 'commercial' or
> not is determined by its USE; wether the organisation using it paid
> for it or not is irrelevant.

i "failed to grasp" that point because it's a steaming pile of bovine
excrement.

FYI, it is possible to recover from public mistakes with grace and
dignity...that would have been a far better reponse than tediously
refusing to acknowledge your mistakes, redefining terms and mangling the
language in a futile attempt to "prove" that you were right all along.


> Linux (and please note I never referred to Red Hat Linux in my post -

i know. you said "Linux is most definitely a COMMERCIAL operating
system", which is just plain wrong. i pointed out that what you said may
apply to the redhat distribution of linux, but it doesn't apply to linux
in general.

> just Linux) has been *commercial* (ie people using it for commercial
> activity) since well before there was a Red Hat!

yawn.  the term "commercial OS" never has meant what you're trying to claim
it does, and never will.


> ...and for the future, please note that the company name is Red Hat -
> two words, with capitals?

you spell it how you like it, i'll spell it however i can be bothered.
in the dialect of written english i use (unix geek ascii), it is
perfectly legitimate to eschew the use of capital letters except for
acronyms or emphasis.


craig

-- 
craig sanders <cas@taz.net.au>

Fabricati Diem, PVNC.
 -- motto of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch