No More Doom and Gloom, Please

It seems that more and more bloggers are writing doom and gloom articles or attention grabbing headlines to that effect. Recently one blogger has taken it upon  himself to write about the virtues of Windows 7 and make pronouncements that it will kill Linux on netbooks and “instant on” computers. Others write that the success of Ubuntu will kill other distros and poses a threat to Linux as a whole. I say, enough already. Such writing serves no useful purpose. It spreads fear, uncertainty and doubt and unless that it your goal you need to think twice before you join in.

Windows 7 has not been released yet. Reports on it range widely from sleek and fast to being a thinly disguised version of Vista. Spreading FUD is not a reasoned response. It plays on our emotions and it comes about because those spreading it have a weakness. If you are in a strong position then you don’t need to play that card.

Microsoft engages is FUD against open source because it poses a threat and they are in an unfamiliar position. They can’t buy Linux because it isn’t for sale and they can’t attack it in the usual way because they don’t want to give it momentum and credibility. They first try to ignore it, then they use threats and finally FUD. In this case, they are stalling for time because Vista is a bust and do not want users to consider alternatives. With businesses they can work out programs that enable businesses to leapfrog Vista, but regular consumers need to be dealt with in other ways. They will dangle hope with leaks about Windows 7 and engage in FUD to keep users from trying Linux. This is what we see happening in these blogs.

Linux users should not aid them by spreading FUD. Also, we do not know who is behind these blogs, what is based on factual information and what is not. The bloggers could be on Microsoft’s payroll or could be beneficiaries from Microsoft in some way (such a free laptops to blog). At the very least we need to regard these articles with a great deal of suspicion. When I see well respected Linux RSS feeds spreading these stories, I have to why they are giving these stories any credibility.

Linux has benefitted from the failure of Vista to be sure. It has brought flocks of new users and has opened up opportunities for expansion. However, Linux’s success does not depend on the continued failure of Windows. Linux would have continued to grow in any case. To suggest that Linux would fail if Microsoft produces a winner does not make sense. Linux does not depend on Windows or Windows users. It never has. It has its own loyal base of fans and as it isn’t a commercial venture there is little to no money to be made or lost.

Sure, we would like to see more people using Linux. A broader user base will produce more drivers as OEMs would be forced to provide greater support. Philosophically, we would like to see people embrace open source because we believe in freedom and choice. Although we don’t use Windows, we are not indifferent to the problems of others regarding security and stability. Most of us have either been Windows users in the past or know someone who is. But, in the end, it is up to them to choose what best meets their needs, just like it is for us to choose what works best for us. So, both Linux and Windows will continue to have their own user base and as long as there will be a choice this will continue to be the case.

If Microsoft should produce a killer OS, it would be news indeed. It would be ground breaking. If they were to produce a product that wasn’t bloated and over-rated then it would be worthy of headlines simply because it would a departure from the norm. To think that they have achieved this on short notice is mind boggling. The fact that this is exactly what businesses and Windows supporters want to hear is very convenient. We can only speculate that Microsoft is behind such reports, but fits perfectly with their M.O.

The same can be said about reports that Ubuntu is killing other distros or even Linux. Aside for the fact that there is no evidence, there are vested interests in spreading such stories. If you cannot compete, then use fear tactics and smear campaigns. It works in politics and Microsoft uses it effectively in business. But we do not have to participate in them. Nor do we need to believe them. We should not spread such stories and we need to read them with a great deal of suspicion.

The Linux community has much to offer. All of it is good. There are so many positives to using open source that to taint it with negative campaigns is to reduce it to something that it is not and it is entirely unnecessary. Linux is what it is. Windows is what it is. We do not need to win people over to our side and our success does not depend on their failure.

Ubuntu is doing many things right and that is why people are choosing it. The way for other distros to gain new users is to make right decisions as well. To concentrate our energy on promoting division is a waste of time and energy that could be better used to improving the product and strengthening the community.

The next time you read an article that spreads FUD, whether inside the Linux community or outside of it. Ask yourself if this is how you want to spend your time. Fear comes out of weakness. If someone is spreading FUD then it is out of weakness. Fear spreads like a contagion and as it spreads we become weakened. That is why it works and why people engage in FUD campaigns.

We have nothing to fear. Linux has never been stronger. Someone has something to gain by wanting us to believe otherwise and we are allowing ourselves to be played if we join in whether consciously or unconsciously.

This is not to say that Linux and certain distros should not be criticized, but let those criticisms be based on substance and let them be specific, so that they are constructive. That way the distro will be improved. But, that isn’t why these criticisms are being levelled against Ubuntu. The people criticizing it don’t want it to be stronger. They want it to be weaker. Their problem is that it is strong and their product is weak. The parallel with Microsoft’s situation and its criticisms of Linux should be apparent to all.

We can protect ourselves from FUD campaigns by being well informed, thinking about what could be the motivation of the writer and by not joining in. So, no more doom and gloom, please. Stay positive and stay real.