Why Linux has Zealots
Now, when I say "Linux", just apply it in your mind to all of GNU, Linux, BSD, Open Solaris, Darwin (if it ever comes back), Plan 9, et cetera encompassing all of Free and Open Source software.
So, why the zealotry? It's hard for the non-geek population to wrap their minds around the zealot factor. It's just a computer, isn't it? Why all the fuss? We geeks know how we are. We take a simple thing like playing a song and turn it into an anti-DRM crusade. Show us an RFID chip and we set off into a rant about rights to privacy. Write a web page for IE-only and watch the indignant geeks line up to decry the injustice.
Are we really serious, or are we just putting everybody on? Is it really so important to spread Linux? What do we have against proprietary software?
The answer is that it's not at all just about Linux or just about DRM. Those are each just one tree in a vast forest. I have no idea if it's been set down before - please link me in the comments if you find a similar declaration ℵ - but let me here (in a sweeping act of hubris) set down what I have come to think of as...
"The Four Pillars of Technology Freedom"
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re: Why Linux has Zealots
Huh? Yeah, every geek has some hidden anti-capitalist agenda driving their Linux fanboy obsession - NOT.
Everything and Anything has it's own clique full of fanboy's.
It's a evolutionary trait - humans are social animals, and will bond to absolutely ANYTHING. It's not rational or logical (or associated with some hidden social agenda like the article writer indicates), it just "is" (otherwise how would there be bowling teams?).
Everyone wants to be unique or special or super, just as long as they have a handful of peers along for the ride to tell them how unique or special or super they are.
True rogues (people without a peer group) are usually sociopaths (or in the process of becoming one) and are the Unibombers of society.
Since you need to be a Linux (or Mac or MS or Chevy or Lakers or whatever) fanboy to understand the minutiae of that obsession, or course only like minded people will bond together (has your wife/husband/mom/sister/poolboy every told you how much you rock at WoW?).
Zealots on the other hand, cross the line of reality. They see their obsession as having a grander (greater) purpose (prime example: religious freaks, Amway salesmen, or Richard Stallman).
Zealots are scary and should be avoided at all cost.