Why are some linux users a--holes?

[Tainted_Girl]

Don't get me wrong. I use Windows, BSD and Linux. But recently I've been noticing alot of a--holes in the linux community. I like Linux but it's sad that some people have to make it look bad. I can already tell that someone is already going call me a TROLL which is typical for a person suffering from linux paranoia just for sharing a different point of view. Criticize me and you prove me right, but agree with me and you just might prove me wrong.

[oz]

Howdy, Tainted_Girl...

I tend to think that all users of all operating systems go through phases of being friendly, then getting tired of answering the same questions over and over, so they start barking at new users and other accomplished users. Hopefully that's all it is, anyway. Whatever the case, I don't think it's limited to the Linux community.

ozar

[XenNetwork]

I haven't found too many people on linux to be ass holes...And the people who are, are probubly just nerds thinking there better then every buddie else so they just mock you instead of helping becuase the lack of social skills.

[a12ctic]

I dont know, most of the linux community seems very freindly and intelegant to me... The people that arent friendly dont hang around linux irc channles/forums... I know a few of them but not many...

[onlinebacon]

Hey Tainted_Girl,

People tend to be a-holes in the linux community because it was once a very geeky thing, people liked having other people who knew everything about it, and so they now get annoyed now there is lots of new people who dont know a thing, or bother them asking questions google could answer in the same time.

Thats probably why (not me though, I'm nice)

[muha]

Just because they are paranoid, doesn't mean they're not after you.
seriously: i never had any bad experiences with any linux folk (except for my close friends)

[fingal]

Hello Tainted_Girl ... I think it's true that in any group of people you'll get the good the bad and the ugly. I've certainly seen one or two trolls around, and their technique is a lot like fishing:

- bait the hook by pretending to invite debate and a reasonable discussion;
- once a reply is received jump in with a load of unfounded and unproven comments;
- complain about 'freedom of speech' while trying to shout other people down ...
- all the other stuff ...

And also, it might depend on which aspects of our "community" you're talking about. Many of the people on these forums are end users and not really open source developers (sorry to those of you who are). I think developers have little time to be abusive and I know that a proper hacker would not engage in a public slanging match.

The fact that people are anonymous online is also a factor. I could be a pizza-faced 12 year old from a dysfunctional family and start flaming you for kicks ... then I feel like I'm in control when - in fact - I have very little in my real life ...

I hope you keep using those OSes and enjoying them. Really our friend Moe has it right when he talks about 'curiosity' and the sheer joy of creating and learning about things. So I feel that the way ahead is to forget the idiots and focus on that ... And of course fight back when you think that's right.

[carlosponti]

there are a few however that is true with the windows and other communities as well. it seems that net nerds with egos about using a computer get big mouths when they are posting in a forum or what have you. the anonymity gives those with big egos and flairing tempors a place to bully. mostly the types of nerds that would start a fight with someone in a gaming forum will then call them a racist term. i had a guy call me a troll then send me graphic pictures in my PM on this forum just ended up being some idiot looking to start a fight. in the case of those who rant off "RTFM" manual in a post or "google it loser". i usually dont do that i look it up on google and then state on google i found a link to this article on how to fix your problem. instead of RTFM manual i would say that in the manual it states blabity blab. there are nicer ways of getting people to stand on thier own. once you say on google i found this then they get the idea in a nice way that it was on google for them to find. Sometimes people just dont think that google would have that which they are looking for. when i have problems my first thought is to ask you guys, google never occurs to me until later after i post something.

[redbeard]

I think the restraint shown by this group in the face of a pretty obvious provocation is a very good thing. I belong to a number of other internet forums, and can't imagine such a polite response if someone were to post the equivilant on say the Outboard Motor Repair forum.

Why are so many boaters A-- holes? I've been noticing lately that a lot of people who use outboard motors are a-- holes. Why is this? I can tell already that someone will call me a Troll because they are suffering from outboard paranoia...

[fingal]

I think the restraint shown by this group in the face of a pretty obvious provocation is a very good thing. I belong to a number of other internet forums, and can't imagine such a polite response if someone were to post the equivilant on say the Outboard Motor Repair forum.

Lol ... the only other community which I loosely belong to is the rock contingent in Birmingham. I would like someone to approach a six foot biker and say, 'A lot of you bikers are A-holes!' and wait for a reasoned response. They haven't read any Socrates, let's put it that way.