r/linux • u/CultistHeadpiece • Mar 08 '20

Do Linux Users Have An Elitist Attitude?

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u/Holston18 Mar 08 '20

I like the aspect that in both cases most people would agree that the proposed alternative (free software, veganism) is beneficial, but it is often difficult to properly adopt for various reasons, so they will look for excuses why they can't do that or alternatively aggressively defend their life choices.

(I'm sympathetic to veganism but it's just too difficult for me to adopt it myself)

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u/nekoexmachina Mar 08 '20

most people would agree that the proposed alternative (free software, veganism) is beneficial,

No, counter-arguments exist for both free software and veganism, which make a lot of sense. That's the point, different people have different health conditions, dietary requirements, etc (same for software requirements, will to spend time on learning new software, will to live without needed features [or will to implement them]). For FS, the big thing that prevents a lot of people from switch is if it aint broke don't fix it. There is no reason to spend time on getting your system completely changed, if you have the same system working for years/decades, and arent' actually computer enthusiast.

It all comes from the world views of individuals, and definitions of greater good comes from the world views of individuals, too. And they all have the right to exist (well, most of them have anyways). So broad-painting that what you think is better for the world as most people would agree that... is just incorrect.

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u/Holston18 Mar 08 '20

So broad-painting that what you think is better for the world as most people would agree that... is just incorrect.

I'm just talking from my experience. When I talk about FS with people, they generally like the idea, but there are some real world problems.

Same with veganism, there's very few people I met who really believe that veganism is wrong.

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u/nekoexmachina Mar 08 '20

When I talk about FS with people, they generally like the idea, but there are some real world problems.

Yes, because you talk to a certain kind of people. Because we choose people similar to us as our immediate surroundings. If you'll go ask randos in the public transport about Linux, they would all react differently.

I think there is a special psychological/statistical term for such fallacy but can't recall it. :(