[H-GEN] Sad day for Linux

[Jason Parker-Burlingham]

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Ewan Edwards <Edwards_Ewan_B at cat.com> writes:

> I'm sure there are a number of decision makers in the corporate
> world who are not well educated about OSS, who have read the SCO
> announcement.  Without the benefit of other knowledge they will
> react in a OSS negative way.  With the benefit of advice from third
> parties (legal consultants, industry analysts, etc.), they will
> still react in a cautious (better safe than sorry) manner.

Think about this for a minute without SCO in the picture.  If they're
not well-educated about Free Software and are surrounded by poor legal
advice why would they suddenly start using Linux?

On the one hand there's already a good steady supply of FUD about open
source and Free Software.  On the other hand it's impossible to pick
up an industry newspaper or look at an IT-news-related website without
seeing half a dozen articles about how untenable SCO's position it.
People are tripping over themselves to write about it.

On the gripping hand, who gives a toss whether Linux "makes it" in the
corporate world?  Or on the desktop?  Or gets used by senior citizens?
Or by pornographers, criminals, the NSA or whomever the hell?  You use
it.  I use it.  Almost everyone on this list uses it.  Whatever
happens we will in all likelihood continue to be able to use it.

The best way to fight FUD is to *stop believing it*.  All this talk
about people deserting Linux/Open Source Software/Free Software in
droves is just a secondary effect of SCO's ritual suicide.
-- 
``Oooh!  A gingerbread house!  Hansel and Gretel are set for life!''

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