Re: [Fsfe-uk] GNU/Linux, Linux divide

[MJ Ray]

address@hidden <address@hidden> wrote:
>> i am of the opinion that the appellation GNU/Linux must be used from
>> the word go. If some find it difficult to grasp then it needs
>> explaining.
> They won't find it difficult to grasp initially, they'll simply not
> have the foggiest what you're on about -- GNU/Linux?  So you'll have to
> waste valuable time, and you won't have their attention for long,
> explaining some insignificant *to them* detail that they just *do not
> care about*.

There's two things here I'd like to raise.

We're probably talking to people who don't associate Linux with freedoms,
even if they know what Linux is.  Introducing a new correct term along with
a lot of other new material probably isn't going to be much more painful,
although we should probably ride it in on the back of the Linux term somehow
at first, but then use GNU/Linux consistently throughout our communcations.

The second is that Linux is not the end.  GNU/Linux is only today's
incarnation of the OS.  Even if you are sceptical, it still makes sense to
hedge one's bets about the Hurd becoming a more common base than Linux for
GNU systems, so introducing the GNU term now will save us time later. 
Otherwise we're going to be trying to say "sorry guys, we've been talking
about Linux, but now there's this largely-identical system called GNU/Hurd
that you can also use".  OK, I probably screwed the nomenclature up there,
but you get the idea.

[...]
>> is included, it's the main plank of it's structure, what would Linux
>> run on if not for GNU? 
> Linux normally runs on hardware, not GNU  :-)

Cut the guy some slack.  I think it's obvious enough that he meant "with"
rather than "on" that you don't need to grin at him while correcting it.

>> To reiterate, I am of the opinion that we can not perpetuate and
>> extend the laziness of calling the system by the kernel's name.
> Sometimes you have to make a little concession for greater good in the
> long term.

I thought you were arguing that we should make this concession for a
short-term benefit?  I think I agree with Marc and John about the potential
long-term confusion of it, though, so we should be very careful.

Anyway, we've spent too much time debating this issue already.  Can we
please at least agree to fall into line behind the GNU/Linux idea in
principle?  We're here to promote Free Software and not just one system,
after all.
-- 
MJR ,----------------------------------------------------
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