Hand Grenade Jounalists - We Have Inspired The Best (Tux500)
Submitted by srlinuxx on Thu, 05/17/2007 - 13:53
As we approach the deadline for donations for the Tux500.com project, I think now would be a good time to talk to you about some interesting things that happened during this effort. It surely received its share of attention, I cannot complain one bit about that. And to be honest, I did expect there to be a bit of controversy evolving from Tux500. It is indeed a bold and challenging attempt to begin the marketing of GNU/Linux as a viable alternative to the Windows Desktop. Before we talk about any specifics however, it is only fair to point out something that has received little attention in this affair.
Tom Chastain is the owner of Chastain Motorsports. Mr. Chastain is the man responsible for giving the Linux Community the opportunity to gain recognition through his program. Many of you disagreed vehemently with this idea. You spoke harshly about it before you had the facts and in your frenzy, some of you gathered as much saliva as possible and spit it directly at Tux500.
You missed.
You hit Tom Chastain.
Also:
I'm pretty shocked and betrayed to see a site like Nuxified jump on the name, blame, and shame bandwagon. This has stopped being about Tux500 a _long_ time ago. Reason #3 of that article goes on yet again to paint anybody who doesn't support Tux500 as the mortal enemy of Linux. I hope it was worth the Indy 500 coffee mug, Danijel Orsolic!
What an utter bunch of illogical nonsense it all is! Millions of dollars are raised through the FSF, EFF, OSAIA, and the individual projects which make Linux Linux... and all you have to do is close your eyes and pretend not to see it and insist that if people don't support Tux500, then they're an enemy of Linux.
But let's examine some history, shall we? Linux is just over 15 years old. Now, why do I use Linux, why are you, dear reader, reading about Linux, why do sites like Nuxified even exist? Why does Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer have fits and throw tantrums about Linux? Is it because Linux has been advertising for 15 years, be it upon a race car, a blimp, or a bicycle?
re: Tux500
Blah blah blah blah blah.
Another failed Linux fanboy project that spent more time and energy arguing about the would'a/should'a/could'a issues instead of just doing something great (hard to believe they couldn't convince one person with real marketing/pr campaign experience to help them avoid the hundreds of fatal errors they made on this fiasco).
As to feeling sorry for any of the collateral fallout - you must be kidding (sniff - poor Tom Chastain). Next time do your homework and have a VIABLE business plan before launching some half-ass'd project that assumes you speak for the majority of the Linux community.