[PLUG] Why I won't be speaking at FOSSsumMIT 2104

[Mayuresh]

On Fri, Aug 01, 2014 at 11:57:49PM +0530, ThinRhino wrote:
> If PLUG can make clear of it's stand it will be great.

I am not an active member of PLUG, nor related in any way with organizers
of the events you mentioned. So this is not an official "PLUG response".

Just like you I am a long timer at PLUG mailing list.

Just my couple of cents:


1. It is difficult to counter your stand philosophically. "Freedom of
choice" includes freedom to use proprietary software. So I am not going to
try to counter your stand.


2. All I can say is, your insistence saddens the evangelists of FOSS
movement, which should be understandable.


3. Particularly if an event is related with evangelism of certain theme,
it makes sense to (say) dress or (say) use gadgets that gel with the theme
of the event.

May be a stupid example: You have a T shirt with your employer's brand
name / logo printed on it. You change your job where casuals are allowed
on Friday. Now nothing stops you from wearing your previous employer's T
shirt. But how does it "feel", particularly how your co-workers feel?


4. You had difficulty setting up your demo programs on Linux. You have not
said so explicitly, but to some, it may sound as if it was Linux at fault.
Had you developed them for Linux in the first place, may be they would
have broken on OS X. While you may have just stated the facts, wish such
connotation could be avoided.

Similarly. "Now I want a system that just works" has similar (implicit)
connotations. IMHO any decent Linux distro should "just work" as well.


PS: I am not a Linux user anymore, for last 4 years or so.

Mayuresh.