You’ve probably seen the “I’d like to interject for a moment” quotation that is frequently attributed to Richard Stallman about how Linux should be referred to as GNU/Linux.…
I think calling it “linux” instead of “GNU/linux” amounts to saying “we have a problem with emissions of CO2” instead of saying “we have a problem with upcoming environmental collapse”… it’s completely missing the point of something wider, more complex, etc.
By calling it “GNU/linux” you refer to an OS that is based on the principles, the ethics, the philosophy, the politics of Free/libre software. you mention software that exists to share nowledge and empower people.
By calling it “linux”, you refer to an obscure object, the kernel, that was mostly developped “because its fun”, in which companies like IBM etc… contribute. a cool toy for tech nerds. nothing really important, revolutionary or subversive…
I understand the purpose of making relevant the GNU part but insisting on it is not how language works. A better example is more like when people just say ‘America’ referring to the country instead of insisting in saying ‘United States of America’ every 👏 time 👏 on 👏 every 👏 single 👏 conversation because of “its significance”.
yes, and for the same reason, when someone says “America” i always ask them: “do you mean South America, Central or North-America?” and they usually go “oh sorry yeah i meant the United States”.
Because langage matters and also brings about colonial notions…
“linux” like “open source” is our freedoms being colonized by the business/“pragmatic” crowd…
Who does that? Unless you are engage in a conversation about continents which I’m sure it doesn’t happens too often, otherwise why would you have to distinguish it?
I think calling it “linux” instead of “GNU/linux” amounts to saying “we have a problem with emissions of CO2” instead of saying “we have a problem with upcoming environmental collapse”… it’s completely missing the point of something wider, more complex, etc.
By calling it “GNU/linux” you refer to an OS that is based on the principles, the ethics, the philosophy, the politics of Free/libre software. you mention software that exists to share nowledge and empower people.
By calling it “linux”, you refer to an obscure object, the kernel, that was mostly developped “because its fun”, in which companies like IBM etc… contribute. a cool toy for tech nerds. nothing really important, revolutionary or subversive…
I understand the purpose of making relevant the GNU part but insisting on it is not how language works. A better example is more like when people just say ‘America’ referring to the country instead of insisting in saying ‘United States of America’ every 👏 time 👏 on 👏 every 👏 single 👏 conversation because of “its significance”.
yes, and for the same reason, when someone says “America” i always ask them: “do you mean South America, Central or North-America?” and they usually go “oh sorry yeah i meant the United States”.
Because langage matters and also brings about colonial notions…
“linux” like “open source” is our freedoms being colonized by the business/“pragmatic” crowd…
Who does that? Unless you are engage in a conversation about continents which I’m sure it doesn’t happens too often, otherwise why would you have to distinguish it?