How not to advocate Linux
May 29, 2008 by Clair Ching
Filed under Geeky Fun
I had some laughs when I read this article about the top 5 ways to not be Linux evangelist. I agree that number 1 is just too much:
Do not sneak in to work early one morning, insert Linux live CDs into everyone’s desktop system, and hope that when they live boot they will be excited to see TUX. It is always a good idea to keep a few live-cds with you so that you can offer it to someone who may be interested. But “surprising” the office, including the senior VP, with the benefits of a KDE desktop is probably not going to help the cause. Although, from what I’ve heard, it can make your Monday morning at the office most interesting.
That is just so awkward! I mean, even if you think that others should use Linux, this is not the way to entice them because they will think you’re some weird person as well as an extremist.
Linux could be fun and wonderful. Especially when you find the tools you’d really come to use a lot. But shoving Linux down people’s throats could send the wrong signal. There are other ways to go about it like helping friends along when they need troubleshooting help and you could talk about Linux with them.
This is so very true. I see so many examples of when people are forced to take on new technologies and it only forces them to push back. Ease them into it. It comes with the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”
Did this once… Made my officemate have a panic attack. Stuck a Nimblex live cd in her Dell Optiplex when I was early at work because of color coding… Hehehe. ^_^
Hi, Jesse
I am not very familiar with that saying. Glad you mentioned it. Yes, there are people who are not going to feel comfortable that way. Then again I’ve seen most people act that way rather than welcome the technology. I think that the article is a good reminder for all of us so that we could temper our zeal in letting others know about Linux.
@Igor: Hi, Sir Igs!
Wahahaha. That was mischievous. You were probably that bored while you were very early at work.