How to shut up Windows users

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deavmi
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Iscritto: 02/19/2015

I need some help to shut up these Windows users: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/398092-which-windows-to-buy/?p=5369680

They think they are so smart and know all about Linux (yes they refer to the kernel constantly, dumbasses).

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

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Iscritto: 10/31/2014

I'm not gonna click on that link. I don't care much about windo$e users. I find them boring.
You shouldn't waste your time with those who don't care and don't listen.

I will tell you the big points you should use to educate someone you care about to switch to the magnificent GNU OS:

- free software respects you and everyone around you. It is made by a community for the community. Transparency.

- Free software is about freedom and social justice (instead private OSes are about dependency and profit for the corporations)

- why pay for a backdoored OS that keeps restricting your possibilities (DRM and malware) and sells your private info to the highest bidder?

- Why in the world should one give money to some idiot like Bill Gapes or whatever?

-You pay for software that you cannot share with your friends and sometimes not even use on a different hardware than the one you're on when you made the purchase. Really? How stupid is that?

- You will not catch a virus on GNU. Your hard-drive is not gonna fragment with usage. Your Os will be fast and smooth on day 718 as it was on day 1.

- apt update && upgrade takes care of all the software on your computer. Everything is always magically updated to the latest version.

- You pay for an antivirus that gives you a mere illusion of safety (the windozz OS is backdoored and there is no anti-whatever for that).

- Performance on a same computer when comparing GNU and Winzozz is clearly stellar on GNU and shitty on Winzozz (and on that ShitOS it gets worse with time due to the registry stupid architecture, malware and fragmentation etc etc..)

-BSOD. Need I say more? Stability and reliability.

- People install windose and all they learn about their OS is how to change the wallpaper :P
With GNU you decide how your desktop should look like and set it exactly how you want it.

- If you install and use GNU for some time you may actually learn something even if you are not a programmer..

I'm sure there are more points.
Feel free to add.
cheers!

deavmi
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Iscritto: 02/19/2015

I love all your points you posted.

Legimet
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Iscritto: 12/10/2013

Don't waste time trying to convince those people. Your time is better spent contributing to free software.
Also, it's strange that that site is called Linus Tech Tips :P

Mr_Haze305
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Iscritto: 05/12/2013

What is this topic? I'm lost.

ssdclickofdeath
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Iscritto: 05/18/2013

You'll just be seen as a troll if you join a forum composed of mainly Windows users, and advise others not to use Windows on topics like the one you linked to.

deavmi
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Iscritto: 02/19/2015

That's what I feel like.

onpon4
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Iscritto: 05/30/2012

First of all, you shouldn't try to "shut up" people who promote Windows. They have a right to express their views just as much as you.

Now, as to dealing with people who don't agree with the libre software movement or even necessarily know about it, it's complicated. As ssdclickofdeath said, don't join a community just to criticize them for their views on software. I don't think you'll necessarily come across as a troll, but you will come across as a desperate street preacher of sorts. But if you're already a part of the community for a different reason, I think it's OK to bring the libre software position up as long as it's relevant. Based on my attempts to do this in the past, I think the important thing is to suggest, through context, that you are interested in debating the merits of your views, and then follow through with a pleasant debate if someone else challenges you. Be strong and firm, but respectful.

For the record, I don't think it would be appropriate at all to bring up libre software in this particular topic. It's a topic asking for suggestions of Windows versions to use. Bursting into topics that are supportive of proprietary software and saying that it's bad is not helpful. The sorts of times when I would bring up libre software are e.g. when a malicious feature in a proprietary program is being discussed, when open source is being discussed, or when various alternative programs that do a particular job are discussed.

Jabjabs
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Iscritto: 07/05/2014

Essentially what I was going to say. It is perfectly fine to bring these topics up but you have to pick the right situations.

That said some times there will never be a perfect time and others aren't always keen to listen to a new point of view. I bring it up when relevant in various Windows/Apple websites but I don't push to heavily. Just putting the message out there in a simple fashion can be a huge help long term, it plants that seed of doubt in their current situation and another seed of intrigue.

I admit that personally the switch to free software wasn't over night and it was from others slowly spreading the word in other forums that started me slowly on the path. Those that started big angry debates generally worked against the cause as it made the position look extreme - it was the more generalized simpler approach that did it for me.

deavmi
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Iscritto: 02/19/2015

I know that. But they profess untrue information.

onpon4
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Iscritto: 05/30/2012

Having had another look at the thread, it seems to me that you made a bunch of posts decrying Windows in that thread, and they were either moved or deleted. I think you did something wrong here, and the moderators did something right. See my post above.

As for untrue information, see my post below. But in what's left of that thread, I don't see anything which is untrue, except for an obvious troll post at the bottom. Other than that, I see a response to you calling Windows a "shit platform" which points out that GNU/Linux is not a very good choice for proprietary software games, and this is true. He then in that same post praised GNU/Linux as useful for programming, and it seems you took this to mean that GNU/Linux is only useful for programming, for some reason (unless you were talking about some other post which is no longer in this thread).

deavmi
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Iscritto: 02/19/2015

I have to admit I know the call GNU/Linux Linux. That isn't the problem but saying that GNU/Linux is only useful for programming is a down right lie and ignorance.

Sasaki
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Iscritto: 08/11/2014

What I saw was not untrue information but just an add for a gaming os apparently based on linux kernel, and other people saying "I prefer win 7" Or "I prefer win 8.1".
I saw nothing wich looked like a debate or something like that. Just people saying quite meaningless things.

deavmi
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Iscritto: 02/19/2015

Saying that GNU/Linux performs poorly and that Windows is faster (performs better) is a lie.

onpon4
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Iscritto: 05/30/2012

It's almost never a good idea to accuse someone of lying. Even if it's true, the accusation only makes you look aggressive and antagonistic. If someone says something that you think is untrue, point it out, but in a way that assumes good faith.

For example: "Could you elaborate on how Windows is faster than GNU/Linux? My experience tells me the opposite."

Also, you need to be open to the possibility that you may be wrong, or that there may be some nuance which makes both you and the other person partially correct. A Windows system can< perform better than a GNU/Linux system. Actually, I've found Windows in its base form to be no less efficient than any GNU/Linux system running something like GNOME. On the other hand, it's very common for Windows systems to be slowed down by unauthorized adware, spyware, and viruses, and those can substantially slow the system down.

deavmi
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Iscritto: 02/19/2015

Very true. I will not let my love for GNU/Linux blind truth.

deavmi
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Iscritto: 02/19/2015

True.

marioxcc
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Iscritto: 08/13/2014

I did not read carefully the thread you linked because it seems worthless, but I have an idea of what the problem is: You are trying to educate the users of an informatics forum about about free software. It is a noble task, but it is unlikely that you will succeed and there are better uses for your time.

That forum seems quite worthless. It seems to be full of people who are enthusiastic about the most superficial part of informatics, but have no interest or knowledge in informatics as an engineering. This is the equivalent of “science fiction” fans who are fascinated by flashing “science fiction” movies, and think they know about physics, while in fact what they think they know about physics is simply false or too vague to be of any use, and have not the least interest in physics. These groups (among many others) are a sign of the intellectual decadence of society. It is a waste of time to discuss informatics with the people of that forum, just as it is a waste of time to discuss physics with the aforementioned type of “science fiction” fans.

How to make better use of your time to advance free software: Talk about the problems of proprietary software and how free software provides a solution to the people with whom you interact regularly (friends, familiars, coworkers), but do not waste time and effort trying to convince those who do not want to listen. In addition, use free software in public, so that your software will get people attention. When somebody asks you about your software, take the opportunity to educate him about free software and (at your option) offer to install GNU/Linux on his computer.