Re: [tlug] Supporting Linux

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com>]

Lyle H Saxon writes:

 > Not in this case.  Fear is not a factor - Disinformation is.

But that problem is that *you* are the main provider of disinformation
here, by insisting (Stallman-like) on being the arbiter of definitions.
Unfortunately, it's only harming your credibility.

 > That Microsoft is free?  Look - you can "prove" anything with
 > sophistry.  Nevertheless, we all know that Microsoft is not free.

The "royal" we?  I think you're alone, King Lyle, in making that
absolutist statement.

In fact, the people with a reasonable understanding of the multiple
meanings of the word "free" all disagree with you for certain
definitions in certain contexts.  Some think those contexts are
relevant (Dave MG, obviously; Curt; me).  Others deny that, based on a
different estimate of the prevalance of those contexts in society.

But you're the only one who won't even admit that there's something to
discuss.

 > Crusade?  No, I'm not calling for a crusade - just a little more
 > respect for the truth and less respect for empty sophistry.

Practice what you preach, then.  The truth is that there are many
definitions of the word "free", and you haven't even given yours yet.
You've left it for the rest of us to try to infer it.

 > If there's something negative about Linux that he wants to
 > highlight, then okay, so long as it's at least true!  But saying
 > that Microsoft undercharges, that OpenOffice takes hours to load

Stop lying to yourself.  Those are your manglings of the actual
statements.  Everybody here will recognize those as superficially
resembling statements I've actually made, and they will also remember
that my statements had absolute basis in fact from my personal
experience.  The question is how far do they generalize to the rest of
society.  We had a discussion about that; I learned some things, but I
still consider NeoOffice to be an experience to be avoided even more
than MS Office.

 > (we've gone from "undercharging" to "free"

No, "we" haven't.  They are completely different statements applying
to different market segments, and can comfortably coexist as truth.
You're the only person who doesn't seem to be able to handle that
concept.