Linux as a Way to Make New Friends

Sometimes we forget that Linux has a social aspect. Being part of the community that uses and/or maintains Linux distros, packages and specific applications make us learn new things from other people and more often than not we end up communicating with them online and if possible, offline. Some people get scared and intimidated of the ones who love saying “Read the manual” or “Search for the answers first before asking us. There’s plenty of information online that’s been written already.” But aside from that there really are friendly people in the world of free and open source software.

Online, there are many forums and mailing lists. There are also feed aggregators that let us know more about the people behind communities of developers and users. It can’t be helped that they are visible online because of their passion for free and open source software. As for those who are in the forums and mailing lists, sometimes discussions could get heated because of that. Differences in opinion arise. But at the end of the day, there are people who become friends because of the discussions that they have — whether it’s people who help each other learn, whether it’s people who argue with each other who still maintain a healthy respect for their differences, etc. there are friendships being developed. That’s why sometimes you could probably see them joking with each other online.

And then there are local communities. If you’re a part of a local community, you could join launch parties of the distro you’re using, and/or advocating, etc. Sometimes you meet up with each other, just because you want to hang out. The geographic location does help during times like that. Sometimes you start becoming good friends after a couple of times of hanging out because of learning sessions of Linux. It’s your common interest that starts the friendship and it’s the commitment with each other that makes it go on.

I’ve met (and still meet) people because of Linux and some of them are my good friends up to now. I learn technical stuff with them but I also joke with them and hang out with them just because and it’s really enjoyable. There’s nothing like friendship to help you enjoy your life.