The Linux Community Is Not 'They'!

Too often I hear people referring to a non-existent group called "they" when talking about Linux, free software, open source and many other topics. "They" should do this. "They all" should do that. Who the heck is the "they" that they are talking about?

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[pawouapproval]

I feel like "we" is even worse to say, in regards to the linux community

There's so many people in the linux community that say something along the lines of how WE make changes to this or that but have never actually contributed any code or even supported devs directly monetarily

People say WE all the time but as soon as something needs to be changed regarding a program or OS it turn into THEY

[crazychicken]

They who shall not be named: “The Linux Community”

[bippaasama]

There's already a few "standards" that exist out there even in free software that try to be the de-facto thing, like Libadwaita. But using those standards is a choice, just like standards in the corporate world are a choice that companies can either use or not. Apple sure as hell doesn't conform to many standards, same with Sony. So much of their stuff is non-standard to this day, be it proprietary connectors on Apple devices, proprietary SD cards on Sony cameras and so on. Expecting something from the FOSS people that corporate people don't do either is frankly unrealistic.

[ChrispyNut]

Was in a thread like this the other week.
Dude was criticizing the fragmentation of Linux and reckoned (amongst other impossible things) that "Linux" needs to decide Gnome OR KDE, X11 OR Wayland etc etc because it's all a waste of development, as if taking away the favourite project(s) devs are working on, they'll just switch to the new enforced project and work just as hard and passionately.
You're free to choose any colour you want, so long as it's black!

[iliyandettyilievi]

Hey DT ! Merry Christmas and happy new Year !!! i hope you gonna be Ok !

[WRND]

Yeah, some people just don't get what "Linux" and FOSS is, thinking it needs to be like Windows, iOS, or whatever, not just in optional functionality, but also limited and focused design and philosophy. No thanks.

[aladdin]

One of your best videos DT.
PS: Also many Linux Users, who plead to unify the Gnu Linux rainbow spectrum of distros, should be aware that, a diversity in software architectures actually helps to make the OS a harder target to attackers.
I would actually want to go farther in that regard of security and propose a more modular system, for example being able to even swap the kernel more easily even with something like an bsd kernel.

[Spiritualitydefined]

Hi Derek I'll follow you you're the man!

[dingokidneys]

"We're all individuals"
(from somewhere down the back) "I'm not"

[maxxjrazor]

I love the variety that Linux has to offer. I love that I can customize just about everything on my computer and I have a comfortable workspace for my programming, web browsing, writing, etc. Getting rid of the variety would be getting rid of the freedom that FOSS and Linux has to offer. I dumped Windows because of the very reason that I couldn't do whatever the heck I wanted. Also, last time I had Windows, Microsoft locked me out of my own computer...

[blank-mqef]

the only thing i really disagree with is that every config file should be in ~/.config, i hate having a dirty home so its just annoying when things make random folders

[xard]

DT: *Tries to bring out great point about organic nature of the OSS software hierarchy*
me: *Gets distracted by mechanical keyboards*

[berinloritsch]

The argument against using "they" works both ways. Unless it's a really small company, the CEO doesn't write code. But really "they" as a pronoun simply means a group that isn't my group. Look, I will be the first to say that standards help make things interoperable, but they are only ever any good if you have a critical mass of adherents. As a consumer of Pop OS! it would be awesome if I could decide to change my desktop manager and everything work the same. That hasn't been my experience in the past, so once I get the environment how I like it I just leave it alone. The reason? It costs me time and effort getting back to a new good configuration I would rather spend on something else. If there were some agreed upon conventions, then the cost of switching your desktop manager is only the cost of installing it. I think it's fair to say that part of the reason we have this mess is because we can't agree on anything. And since there are so many incompatible "standards" to choose from, maybe the Linux community shouldn't use that word. There are no standards, only recommendations.

[emperorpicard]

This is called collectivising people, and as pretty much the root problem of most political and economic strife.
It happens all the time and not just in the Linux world.
You are absolutely right, there is no such thing as "they", there are only individual people with sometimes common interests and that is all there is to it

[brentsummers]

Back in the day Microsoft would test printer drivers by having a huge hall filled with computers and printers. This is how they made sure that they worked properly. Boring repetitive work for those involved but *paid* work! A Linux team of volunteers is similar to the sports club wanting to repaint their club rooms. Most of the people who turn up to help want to apply the shiny colorful top coat of paint at the front entrance. Not many want to sand off the old paint or water blast the roof.

[shanedavenport]

Love your monitors stand. Great for an apartment so a person doesn't have to put holes in the wall for the VESA hookup.

[thethark]

HI,

I see you have put up a few - how to install Arch videos. That is vert nice and I thank you for that.
However what I think the community would appreciate is a video on the next step. As in - What can you do with Arch after installation.

What can you do with Arch that other distros can't do? Also why to use Arch, but not based on it's core features, more based on the practical things you can do with Arch.
When people see - Hey I can do this or that with Arch, what else can I do with Arch and that is when they will start experimenting.
Also finally, what day to day tasks does Arch excel at and why?

[russellbrooks]

Lately, I've been hearing that Gnome seems to think they are "they." (Which made System 76 say "Who the hell is they?"

[TnMe]

"They" never specify who "that" group is.

This has been normalized.

[simonschillberg]

KANE LIVES! - and he is a liberal open source fanatic - who would have thought this .-p
even his desk is slightly NOD themed - i love it :D

great content DT keep up the good work
the brotherhood may rise again - with as much distros 'they' see fit