A few years ago I switched to Linux and I pretty much was like this: I saw a friend who didn’t use Linux and tried to evangelize it, saying how it’s superior, how everything you do on Windows is doable on Linux, how Microsoft harvests your data and how bloated Windows 10 is.
That didn’t really lead me anywhere except pushing people away from Linux because I was practically forcing it onto them. Average experience would be me helping them install Linux and troubleshoot some things (usually via googling for them), but as soon as they hit some roadblock that required more extensive troubleshooting to fix (say, a rarer issue), they’d just quit, resulting in time wasted on both ends. If you don’t want to drive people away from Linux and be their dedicated tech support for hours and hours (assuming it’s a friend rather than a stranger on the internet), then please don’t evangelize it without being asked specifically about it. It’s okay to suggest, but let people decide if they want to make the switch themselves.
This isn’t specifically targeted at OP or anyone in particular, it’s just that this type of mentality seems to be literally everywhere when it comes to Linux corners in social media and this meme reminded me of it.
Libre software was a movement founded on collaboration and a sense of urgency. Sure you may have not have had the success you wanted, but the reality is that there is no safe, sustainable alternative to it.
Also I reject your usage of the word “Tech support.” You’re teaching people how to use an operating system (and more importantly a philosophy) they’ve never experienced before. People are driven away from GNU every day by cheap expensive technology that preys on their vulnerability, you likely never made a dent by telling people about it.
A few years ago I switched to Linux and I pretty much was like this: I saw a friend who didn’t use Linux and tried to evangelize it, saying how it’s superior, how everything you do on Windows is doable on Linux, how Microsoft harvests your data and how bloated Windows 10 is.
That didn’t really lead me anywhere except pushing people away from Linux because I was practically forcing it onto them. Average experience would be me helping them install Linux and troubleshoot some things (usually via googling for them), but as soon as they hit some roadblock that required more extensive troubleshooting to fix (say, a rarer issue), they’d just quit, resulting in time wasted on both ends. If you don’t want to drive people away from Linux and be their dedicated tech support for hours and hours (assuming it’s a friend rather than a stranger on the internet), then please don’t evangelize it without being asked specifically about it. It’s okay to suggest, but let people decide if they want to make the switch themselves.
This isn’t specifically targeted at OP or anyone in particular, it’s just that this type of mentality seems to be literally everywhere when it comes to Linux corners in social media and this meme reminded me of it.
Libre software was a movement founded on collaboration and a sense of urgency. Sure you may have not have had the success you wanted, but the reality is that there is no safe, sustainable alternative to it.
Also I reject your usage of the word “Tech support.” You’re teaching people how to use an operating system (and more importantly a philosophy) they’ve never experienced before. People are driven away from GNU every day by cheap expensive technology that preys on their vulnerability, you likely never made a dent by telling people about it.
I’m not trying to push people to Linux. However it kills me to see people struggle and then not ask for help