Microsoft → [Info] Linus: Microsoft Hatred Is a Disease

said by Linus :

There are ‘extremists’ in the free software world, but that’s one major reason why I don’t call what I do ‘free software’ any more. I don’t want to be associated with the people for whom it’s about exclusion and hatred."

said by Matt3:

This is what is such a huge turnoff for me about a lot of FOSS projects and communities. I cannot stand the level of ignorance about Microsoft products in most FOSS communities. They steadfastly refuse to update their knowledge about Microsoft products and cling to old problems to champion their hatred of anything MS. It's childish.

I am accused often of being a MS fanboy when I try to correct patently false accusations against Microsoft or point out that the community is holding MS to a double standard in regards to things like security, interoperability, or cost. God forbid I express my frustration at something obviously broken with an open source product or the lack of innovation that comes from having ten thousand different forks of the same product. Instead of saying, "Hey, here is a guy that uses both products and is trying to help us figure out why he is frustrated when he uses ours," I am more often than not attacked.

I'm glad to see that Linus agrees it's a cancer that kills a lot of interest in open source. It definitely limits my involvement because I also don't want to be labeled as an open source zealot. I have to walk a thin line because I absolutely think open source is a perfect fit for a lot of problems, but there is a perception out there that FOSS is typically broken, poorly implemented, and lacking support. Why? For all the reasons I mentioned above.

(EDIT)

I just wanted to add that Linus' thoughts have restored a lot of my faith in the open source community. It's good to hear that he is so level-headed and not blindly myopic about technology. Very good read overall too, lots of other very good quotes from him.

said by Matt3:

God forbid I express my frustration at something obviously broken with an open source product or the lack of innovation that comes from having ten thousand different forks of the same product. Instead of saying, "Hey, here is a guy that uses both products and is trying to help us figure out why he is frustrated when he uses ours," I am more often than not attacked.

said by darcilicious:

Also, let it be said that not all open-source "communities" are the same -- some have different (more tolerant, friendlier, etc) social/cultural norms than others. Given that I rarely get to contribute paid time to OSS projects, I'm very picky as to where I do contribute. I have no problems passing by communities with obnoxious members...

said by OZO:

I see and share your point. Sometimes it's extremely difficult to express your point to improve or fix something in open source projects because of up front argument like "it's an open source, what do you want from it, go away or fix it by yourself".

said by Matt3:

The dismissive comment of "fix it yourself" absolutely sets me off. I'm not a programmer and I have no desire to become one. Expecting an average user to fix the code themselves is ridiculous.