this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2025
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Be honest with yourselves; How many of you actually read this post and tried to make even the slightest effort to see where OP is coming from? The reaction to someone who's view was "Yes, I already know Linux is great but it can't be installed on my work PC so saying use Linux isn't actually helpful" being "I'm not your fucking therapist" is absurd. Do you believe there is truly not a single valid reason to use windows whatsoever?
I know it seems like it's not a big deal. You go online, act a little mean, and that's that. I love the internet, but unfortunately our poor use of it has cultivated a society where we no longer try to understand each other. I know people here are smart, even the ones I disagree with. So I really don't get the over the top reactions to a bland statement.
We create the world we live in through every action we take, no matter how small. Telling people they don't have the right to vent frustrations just to feel better isn't a kind thing to do. It's divisive to your own communities. If you want to live in a better world, be a better person. I feel like this is all just indicative of a much, much larger problem in society. It perfectly captures how callous we have all become. We forget somewhere on the other end of the screen there was a person with a valid perspective and point.
I know it comes across as preachy, but I am horrified by the state of the world and desperately want things to change. But we can't even behave ourselves on a dumb post about an operating system. And some of you want to talk about changing our economic structures when the real problem here is that none of us seem to have interpersonal skills anymore. I know this is just a very small example that ultimately doesn't matter much, but I see this kind of behavior everywhere for things that really matter.
Maybe I'm too soft, but being unnecessarily rude is nothing to be proud of, being unnecessarily kind is.
tl;dr: take a good long look at yourself and ask if you are giving the same level of understanding that you expect to receive from others (and you should expect it!)
What if someone who's never heard of Linux reads the thread and misses an opportunity to hear about Linux?
unfortunate but they will have other opportunities to hear about it. also, we should kinda treat things on a case by case basis on whether to let people vent their frustrations and move on or to offer solutions. but I'm pretty sure if someone is talking about their frustrations with windows online, they already know about Linux
I spend a lot of time talking to normies, and it turns out most of them have never even heard of Linux. When they ask "what's Linux?" I answer "You know how some computers use windows and some are macs? Those are operating systems. Linux is an operating system made by communist nerds. It's free, it's faster and it's not trying to steal your data, because communism is more efficient."
I have talked to them too but they are uninterested in switched operating systems. They don't have enough of an understanding about windows to be frustrated by it. Someone got mad because "well why don't you just use mac if you don't like windows?"
I guess I talk to cooler normies than you do. Many are open to change, but it won't come overnight. They need to keep being reminded. Familiarity bias will help them overcome mental inertia. "Oh, Linux, I've heard of that. Maybe I should look into it..."
That's a very fair point, my experience was very different than yours so that's where I'm coming from. Usually though if I want to convince someone to switch I start by addressing the big concerns like compatibility, which is way more helpful. But then again that's much easier to do when the conversation starts with the knowledge that the other party is very much aware of Linux
I'm not going to dive into explaining Wine the first time someone's ever heard of Linux. I start with the elevator pitch where everything's great: It's better because anyone can contribute code, so it's been improved by all the smartest nerds on the internet. Making your code a trade secret is an inefficient system, Linux is smarter. Simple arguments anyone can understand.
When the person thinks their own way into the problem: What do I do with all my windows apps? I give the answer: There's an app called Proton that can run any Windows software. It's better at running old windows software than Windows is. I'll help you install it.
That is very helpful. I think what it comes down to is that people here REALLY like to be helpful and felt attacked by the post. Maybe people who don't want advice could preface it by saying they are just venting, and maybe people who want to help can look for context clues to determine whether or not they seem to know about Linux.