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

[Anthony Ogden]

I have to say that I don't think many end-users should really need to 
care about their careful
use or understanding of the term "Linux" for "GNU/Linux"

Its nice for the FSF and RMS to get recognition and people like us know 
this, and can tell
people this if we wish to know the origins and history.   But at the end 
of the day its good
just to get people to use Linux without them really knowing the 
historical facts.

There are many many things we use today which will have originated from 
more than one
person/group and if you want to know your history you can look into to 
find out.

For end users the fact remains, its easier to say "Linux" (although not 
that easy to get
the pronunciation correct!) than it is "GNU/Linux" and its commonly and 
openly known
amongst those that aren't interested in the history or origin simply as 
Linux, but that
doesn't matter... promoting the usage and growth is, no matter what the 
name. is what
matters.

I don't think we should get bogged down in arguing about the name, to me 
its just
important to push Linux as the decent OS that it is and history 
(although imortant
to us, and RMS and the GNU team deserve much credit), is simply a 
footnote to
an end user.

To us, we know Gnu and Linux go hand-in-hand to make "Linux" the OS, but an
everyday user just shouldn't need to care, most won't know nor care a 
jot about the
history of Microsoft, so why should they about Linux.

Vanessa Conchodon wrote:

> John Seago wrote:
>
> > Anyone who can read the installation instructions sufficiently to 
> > install a GNU/Linux distribution can understand the term GNU/Linux, 
> > if they can't then it's unlikely that they are going to take up 
> > membership of AFFS.
>
>
> Lots of people have installed linux with friends so have never
> really read the installations instructions. Others have never
> really realised the GNU part, even if they know what GPL is:
> they don't realise that linux is not a GNU project and that GNU
> has provided the basic utilities. They just know that GNU is
> important as there are lots of GNU free software but you can
> find also FS which are not GNU.
>
> In January, after the talk of RMS at linux expo, few people came
> to the APRIL stand and said that they had just realised why they
> should talk about GNU/linux and not only Linux.
> Before, talking about GNU/linux instead of Linux was not meaning
> something to them.
> I even saw few people who were not involved with computing but were
> using GNU/linux as they knew people who installed them GNU/linux.
> They were end users so reading the installation instructions...
>
> Perhaps people who don't understand yet the term GNU/linux don't
> represent a big part of future AFFS members. But they can be
> interested in AFFS. You don't need to know how to install GNU/linux
> or FS to understand why free software is important and to want to
> join AFFS. Being a user is enough.
>
> Btw, we both think that GNU/linux instead of Linux is important ;o)
>
>             Nessie