Open Source Users/Advocates are filthy, cheap-skate, pirates!
Posts: 1634
Them's fightin' words, huh?
Anyway, WE ARE NOT filthy, cheap-skate, pirates; but that's EXACTLY how we are portrayed by those who stand to lose the most from our adoption, use and advocacy of Open Source software...eye patches, peg legs, hooks, rotting teeth, three-pointed hats and all.
Don't believe me? Listen to Gates, Ballmer, Alchin, et al, sometime.
Heck, don't even bother with them, just sit around and listen to a group of dyed-in-the-wool windoze users discuss Open Source Software and OSS users/advocates sometime...
I took a recent trip to see my parents over the weekend, whereupon a family gathering was to take place. It's nice to see your relatives now and then--if only to be reminded why I live so far away from them in the first place (my brother excepted). That's what this is really all about.
As I usually do when I visit my folks' house, I spent the better part of 48 hours re-partitioning hard drives, preserving and moving wanted files, cleaning up virus, worm, spyware, and trojan infestations on my Mom's machine; and re-loading her microsloth windoze OS. It's a labor of love, and it's all the result of my nephew's inappropriate use of her machine. He uses the computer as if it's his very own, every time he sets foot in the house; which is at least weekly, since he lives only a few minutes from my parents' home.
His last whoopdee-do with that machine cost her over two weeks down-time, and possible compromises of their credit card numbers and online banking information.
It was a total mess; yet, a sign that there is, indeed, a God; because the culpable nephew didn't put-in an appearance last weekend. I relished forward-looking plans of donning the personna of an Alaskan hunter, with him playing the part of the baby seal.
The end-game was one of leaving them with a passworded dual-boot set-up: MEPIS/windoze; and my Dad is spending all of this week changing credit cards and bank accounts, passwords and email addresses. Nobody will use that machine NOW...except my Mom and/or my Dad.
At any rate, as I was repairing the aforementioned damage, realtives milled-about, settling into the wireless "sweet-spot" in the family room area; opening up their respective laptops and occasionally glancing at the mumbling, death-plotting me. Eyes rolled, and the conclusion that there has to be at least one "weird-o-fanatic" in every family, was reached multiple times, I'm sure. (Now...where did I leave my "The World is Ending Tomorrow" sandwich boards again?) They continued to hit the torrent for a bazillion or so mp3s from albums that they have no intention of buying--ever--and chat about how cool it is that they can get everything bit-oriented for nuttin'.
I was only paying half-attention to discussions going on behind me as I was wrestling with a virus-induced failure of a partition split; when the subject of software licensing costs came up. I ignored some very pointed comments as I fired up parted and started snooping numbers. An hour later, I had the partitions squared-away and accessible--even under windoze--and the conversation had progressed to a point where all of my siblings, cousins, neices and nephews were openly (proudly, even) admitting that all of the software they used was pirated and cracked from various sources on the Internet. My brother stood in opposition to them in the discussion, as he tried to convince them that this was stealing.
He wasn't having much luck against them, and the objections they raised were nothing more than vain rationalization. The horribly-unfair costs of licensing software that was hardly worth downloading came up several times.
At a point of stasis in my work, I turned the chair around and joined the fray.
Even though I don't have enough digits available, I started ticking-off the illegal software that they had been bragging about.
Several versions of Adobe software.
The gamut of microsoft office versions.
A patched, illegal, version of xp media center.
A patched, illegal, installation of xp pro.
Video editing software.
CD and DVD duplication software.
Antivirus and system maintenance suites.
CAD programs of various flavors.
Firewalls and more antivirus utils.
Database applications.
Other software that I remembered at the moment, the specifics of which escape me now.
All-in-all, outside of myself and my brother, something on the order of about $10,000.00-worth of software for each conversation participant--maybe even more--and not one of them ever evidenced any shame for their actions, nor intent of ever legally obtaining future software.
"We're just small-fry. They're only going for the guys who sell the stuff."
I know a guy who lost his house because he got nailed for $240,000.00 in fines for the exact thing you're bragging about doing yourselves.
"We don't have any choice. It's too expensive, and we need the programs for business."
You have a choice, but don't want to admit it; and, if you're doing business using windoze software, you'd darn-well better be keeping very close tabs on your credit cards and bank account balances.
"You don't understand because you get everything for free anyway."
I pay for my software...just not as much as you do, of course...and I do everything you say you can do--without crashes BTW.
"It isn't worth what they want for it."
I agree, but that still isn't an excuse for stealing it.
"Everybody does it."
Maybe in the windoze world it looks that way; but I kind-of doubt it. I don't.
"We aren't hurting anybody."
It's illegal. You're hurting yourself.
"We'll just use something else, then...just to make you happy. OK?"
You're lying, but here's a Linux CD anyway. It probably has everything you need--for free.
"That's too hard to learn to use, and use."
Tell that to my 7 year-old daughter. She's been using Linux for years, now.
"Go away."
Wish granted.
I went outside, had a cig and smiled at the irony of it all as I considered the next steps in the overall game-plan of fixing my Mom's computer.
Here I am...a Unix/Linux guy who has never bought anything microsoft; made the mistake of getting my MCSE a few years back; called-upon every time a windoze machine nukes itself; arguing that the windoze contingent should pay for and use legally-licensed windoze software...and they're arguing that the TCO of windoze is too high.
They're right, you know.
Blind, cheap-skate, pirates, but quite correct.
windoze is too expensive, in more ways than dollars forked-out of their wallets for licensing. They just can't see it.
I wish I could get them on TV, to advertise for Open Source Software...or in the next Muppets Treasure Island production.
Thanks for sharing
Posts: 250
I love this thread. I live in a midwest US community and can probably count the number of people who use linux on one hand in this entire county. I hear all of these same comments and when I bring up linux I feel like the little kid that has the adult patting him on the head, "Aw, there's Chris doing his little Linux thing." You know what I mean? 
Well, after having my son in Mepis and Gaim for a long time he just spent a couple days in XP on Yahoo messenger and guess what, he got hacked. Coincidence? I think not.
I refurbish old PC's for needy kids here using my own Knoppix remaster so people around here are learning about linux and kids pick it up very easily.
Soon I'll be doing a question/answer column in the local paper covering common PC questions and you can bet I'll be talking about open source and linux
EnigmaOne, you said it all
Posts: 209
EnigmaOne, you said it all so very well.
With root kit's now the norm for windows box, hiding in HDD areas marked as defective, making them impossible to format out except with a low level format (which is not worth the time versus buying a new HDD) the last remaining windows "users" I service are starting to think along the lines of wearing bullet proof jackets instead of removing the smoking guns from their PC's.
...Still I guess at the end of the day no one is getting killed, the banks seem to keep covering peoples losses through credit card number misuse from internet shopping and internet banking since they want the transactions to keep happening, so stealing corporate secrets would be most important or info to blackmail people with.. Mainly a concern for the big boys I guess.
Thanks EnigmaOne, I thought this morning when I woke up that it was me that had gone crazy, now I know it's the rest of the world.
Cheers mate.
NH
Talk Like A Pirate!
Posts: 5513
EnigmaOne, you've written an excellent article! I too have tried (and my patience has been tried) to gently suggest to friends/clients, "...When you're ready, you might want to try Linux...". But so far, very few takers.
The usual comment I get is, "But I just want to... (enter task here)" and they've been told how "easy" it is to (enter task here) with MS. Yes, it's easy when it's the only thing that's on the computer; when it's the only thing you've ever seen on that computer; and when you don't have to move it to another computer. As long as their "stuff" stays on this one computer they're fine. But it's a pain in the hindquarters to find/isolate/backup/copy their "stuff" from an old, messed up, virus laden computer to a new computer.
It's also irritating to me that there are people who are willing to steal software that costs money, but they are not willing to pay someone (me?) to teach them how to obtain free software! There's logic there, but I have difficulty understanding it.
On a lighter note, you have reminded me that it's never too late for Talk Like A Pirate Day!
Talk Like A Pirate Day - September 19
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/
So avast ye swabs! Run them Windoze scum off the poop deck! Arrr!
Jon
I always said that iv
Posts: 4077
I always said that if Microsoft and other companies crack down on copyright violators they will shoot themselves in the foot (notice that I didn't use the word "pirate" because it's not precise and is a loaded term). Microsoft not letting people using the "5-finger discount" makes free software really competitive (from price point of view, not only from the liberty one).
Now if you talk to people about freedom and software they will look at you like they met somebody from Mars. They don't understand that freedom is practical too. Cost is only one aspect of the practicality of the freedom.
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Let's just stop fixing...
Posts: 690
Let's just stop fixing these polluted, invested windoze boxes. "Next time I'll remove Windoze and all the crap you're using on it and install Linux." Most likely they won't ask to 'fix it' again. But some might.
Regards,
Ko Bros
spot on ko, thats what i've
Posts: 471
spot on ko, thats what i've started doing these days
any windows machine with just a c drive should be destroyed on sight, and same goes for any with 'my documents' still on the c drive....
too painful to salvage by far.
do dell still ship like that??
i think my new mantra is going to be 'death to the uni-drives'
Re: Open Source Users/Advocates are filthy, cheap-skate, pirates
Posts: 519
Them's fightin' words, huh?
...snip...Here I am...a Unix/Linux guy who has never bought anything microsoft; made the mistake of getting my MCSE a few years back; called-upon every time a windoze machine nukes itself; arguing that the windoze contingent should pay for and use legally-licensed windoze software...and they're arguing that the TCO of windoze is too high.
They're right, you know.
Blind, cheap-skate, pirates, but quite correct.
windoze is too expensive, in more ways than dollars forked-out of their wallets for licensing. They just can't see it.I wish I could get them on TV, to advertise for Open Source Software...or in the next Muppets Treasure Island production.
Having been in computers and programming since IBM heavy iron 40 years ago, my friends and fellow church members would frequently ask me to recover/repair their crashed/corrupted/infected Windows boxes.
TO avoid making them mad I usually helped them out. But, fixing a WIndows box isn't something you do just once, especially if the users were totally ignorant of safe computing, as much as that is possible on a windows box. I decided to call a halt to the free help when some began to question if I was the blame for THEIR problems!!! When folks asked I began replying "I DON'T DO WINDOWS". But I softened the blow by telling them I would install an OS that was as easy to use as Windows, but much more stable and secure. "No anti-virus software will be needed because Linux is immune to email viruses, and the Office suite is just as good as Microsoft's and it's free!" I also said I'd support Linux on their box.
The first install was two years ago with Mandrake 8.0. There have been dozens since then. I know of only one person that switched back because the software they needed to run wasn't available on Linux.
Things got easier with the LiveCDs. With KNOPPIX, Kanotix or MEPIS I know immediately how compatible their PC is to Linux. Now I use only MEPIS-6.0.
In the last two years I've been called back only few times. Once when a video card burned out, and once when a person decided to upgrade their Win98 side of their dual boot to XP a couple of weeks ago. They were under the misguided idea that XP would be more secure and stable than Win98. His XP box was so infected with every form of malware available, and he couldn't boot back to MEPIS-3.3.1, that he gave up and agreed to give the whole box over to MEPIS-6.0.
I have fewer people asking me now because they've heard my conditions, but those that do ask are ready for the change!
Quote:Now I use only
Posts: 4077
Now I use only MEPIS-6.0.
Sorry, but that's a bad idea. I know that Mepis6.0 is GOOD even though is experimental.... but IT IS experimental and it's based on Dapper that was not released yet.
THINGS WILL BREAK, while Dapper developers will rush to fix things to release Dapper by June. If thinks will bread newbies users will not understand that's nobody fault: Mepis or Dapper... that system is not supposed to be used as a "production" system
PLEASE, everybody -- don't install or recommend people to install Mepis 6.0 at least till Dapper is released. (and in any case don't install/recommend it for newbies)
Sorry for rant.
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been looking for windows downloads today
Posts: 4864
i had to look for downloads for WinXP today - and I either get free stuff, or pay.
In the left hand column of one site was a table of the 10 most popular downloads.
A licence key for Win XP was number 6.
I pay for linux with time and money; fortunately I have the money to pay, and make some time to contribute.
so go EnigmaOne - tell 'em we do pay, and 'tis them who steal.
Quote: so go EnigmaOne -
Posts: 4077
so go EnigmaOne - tell 'em we do pay, and 'tis them who steal.
That's a good point!
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While I do agree with you
Posts: 32
While I do agree with you EnigamaOne, about 75%, I have to sort of agree with your relatives about 25% of the time.
Yes, you are absolutely correct, it is stealing. No doubt, and illegal. Uninforced? Not entirely, and the future, who knows what to expect.
That being said, you raise an interesting point. I believe you stated that some had up to 10 thousand dollars of pirited software on their computers. Lets think about that for a minute. Of course I am with you that the simple thing and morally correct thing is for them to switch to linux. Problem solved. This is not going happen overnight. Maybe not at all.
How many of your relatives could pay the 10 thousand dollars and still maintain a decent lifestyle and retire when it became time? Next point, licences cost too much. Even the state of California agrees with that one, as their won a big class action suite againest M$ for charging too much for windows due to having a monopoly. So your relatives, I would say are correct on that point. M$ being the richest corporation in the world, and Uncle Bill, the richest man on the planet, I just can't seem to cry any tears for them.
I would state here that there are many good alternatives for windows users. I still have to run windows a lot. Openoffice, Abiword, and StarOffice 5.2 are all available for windows for a free download. There is no real need to use M$ Office unless you also use it at work, and OpenOffice won't do what u want. I stopped buying Norton, at first you had to pay to renew every 2 years, then it became every year. Norton was as bad as a virus the way it slowed down a windose computer. I use AVG and antivir, free for personal use, and that is what they are used for. VLC media player for windose, again, ported from linux open source folks. Firefox, Opera, Spybot, Spywareblaster, Trend micro sysclean, foobar, xpantispy, safexp, Thunderbird, all at least freeware, or free for personal use. Nero did come with my cd burner, so I own that. But I should look into a cdrecord with a front end for windows, as I am almost sure they make a windows port.
Which leaves DVD copy programs. My point here is even if they stole em, would not these programs still be illegal even if they bought them? Not sure it legal to back up a protected dvd that you own, in the USA. Point being DVDxCOPY lost its case in court, and I think went bankrupt. Not completely sure on that one. But it could be Orphanware.
There is probably a free product out there that will do it.
I set my relatives up with all this freeware programs. And what I hear from some of them is why should I switch to linux, I already get all these programs for free anyway. My explanations about viruses, stability, control/freedom, DRM, and being completely legal does not seem to be enough to get them to switch, or really try Mepis. Perhaps, I setup their windose machines too well, most are still running, without virus problems. Or at least any major problems, that the free software (spybot) will not take care of during a scan.
I think the basic sticking point is this; Most windows users had to learn either windows or dos/windows. Not as easy as one would think. Especially to secure it and make it somewhat secure on the internet. Once you learn a operating system, it makes it harder to switch to something else. As the FUD of doing so, is greater than we give it credit.
Mind you, while I am not taking your relatives side, I do think that there agruements, are not totally without logic.
We must be living parallel lives ... LOL
Posts: 311
My daughter has never known anything but Linux
she started when she was 14 -15
she's turning 21 in two months...
I am a linux guy who went to MCSE school in-residence
for what ???
While I was in class I sat in the front seat and corrected
every instructor daily for 9 months...when they would start
talking that Linux FUD shit.
They got so fed up they would ask me
"Why are you here...you hate Windows" ?
and I would reply back
"So when I tell people Windows Sucks..they will believe me
being an MCSE" hahahahaha
Out of the 40 graduates NONE got a job or payraise from it
It's very sad and depressing to just think about windows users
I liken them to toy soldiers that continually have to be
wound back up and reset so they can go until their springs
run out again and again and again...they just don't get it.!!
To this day every single install of Linux I have ever done
and there are dozens and dozens....are still up and running
with not a single one going back to windows..
The versions I have installed and favor are
Mepislite 3.3.1
Simply Mepis 3.4-3
and I actually have an old legacy box that has been running
for years on Damn Small Linux...
They know it
We definitely know it
It's only a matter of time....
I know so many like them...
Posts: 475
I quite agree with you enigmaone. It's not that it's too hard to learn. They're just lazy. I started running linux on my own with nobidy's help. I first saw linux in books a million... *reminisces that day*...The RedHat Linux 9.0 Bible. Came with RedHat even. I started with that. Who woulda thought that I'd have come this far with linux .
SAM
Play Savage for Linux! MEPIS Knowledge Base Articles
MEPIS Quick-Start Guide
Priceless! Unfortunately,
Posts: 484
Priceless! Unfortunately, the attitude you described is not unique. Many of my church going, "law abiding" friends feel and act the same way. When I mention Linux I get a transfixed stare. When I suggest Open Office instead of MS Office, I very often hear, but I already have a bootlegged copy of that, not to mention what other software they have scammed illegally.I feel like a voice in the wilderness.
Rich