Public opinions on OpenSource in the U.S.
 

Let's think about something else than those darn elections for a while.

What doa typical small-town redneck think about OpenSourced software? Should it be threated like a new form of communism, a great danger for any decent and moral bussiness on the software market?

I've been wondering about this for a while, and I'm planning to ask about peoples opinions here too, as it is the most extreme of the more seriuos right-wing conservative communities i've had a look on.

uh ok. I don't see the relation between redneck, opensource, and communism. Sounds like you are looking to insult more then get research.

/Opinion/

1. Open Source is NOT communism. People CHOOSE to write it, People CHOOSE to support it. NO ONE is forcing you to do any of it. Its all done on free will.

2. Open Source Software was spawned by corporate software developers by not actively giving the people what they demanded. (Microsoft I'm looking at YOU)

Individuals got upset that they were NOT being listen to and decided to create their own products. This ultimately led to the OSS revolution that many see today.

Though a lot of OSS projects started because there either were not any solutions that they needed. But obviously some started because they wanted to learn whatever they wanted to learn while doing it.

3.What the HELL does a Redneck have to do with OSS?! If anything the majority of small-town Rednecks don't even know how to operate a computer.

/Opinion/

But lots of people do. At least Mr. Torvalds himself mentioned some kind of relation between opensource and communism in his book.


Why would I want to insult anyone? :) But the fact remains, www.georgewbush.com runs on windows while www.johnkerry.com uses opensource alternatives. (Or is exaggeration to call Bush a redneck?)

That's what I meant. Some people, especially bloggers want to talk about lots of stuff that they don't know anything about. And it's fun to read other people's mistakes, especially if their ideology differs from your own.

well at least don't post that you are trying to distract from the election.

And your quote above means nothing. Who gives a rats ass what the candidates use, do you think john kerry knows what OS his website runs on? I am sure there wasn't a memo sent down that it was open source or nothing, and I am pretty sure that Mr Kerry's personal computer runs windows. Which means what? he is in league with Bush? Talk about over analysing something. At least use real views which hold more weight if you are going to bash the president, the election process or those who voted.

I don't think nybergh's website comment was meant to be taken that seriously.

Whoops.

But the difference is between them who run the websites. OK, that website comment was irrelevant.

maybe, but with how rediculous his comments are so far I am not putting it past him.

So this is a ridiculous thread?
I think it's not (and that's why I started it). I'm really interested in these things. There are general redneck types who wouldn't let their children watch Chaplin movies, and when this sort of cold war hysteria still is active I think it's extremely relevant and interesting.

So, if chaplin=communist, the step towards thinking that opensource=communism doesn't require a very bright fantasy. I hoped to get links to some silly blogs, but some of you are taking me far too seriously.

EDIT: If you want to discuss something relevant, go here instead
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?threadid=196684

Living in a area full of rednecks, I can safely say that the average, and not so average redneck, has no clue what the hell open source is. The main fight in redneckland isn't even about Communism, more of Christians vs nonChristians. I actually can't think of the last time I've heard Communism mentioned outside of world news or the internet.

Again you contradicted yourself when you said you wanted to talk about something else then redirected back to the elections, now you want silly blogs, just say, "hey anyone got some silly election blogs". Also I don't agree with stereo types so you got me on the defensive.

Well, bring up a discussion about opensource, and tell every average redneck you know to use firefox. They have computers, right? ;)

A good thing with forum discussion is that people might post answers only slightly connected with the original subject, and that what was I hoped would happen here. But it didn't.

Off cource you don't agree with my stereo types, becouse you are a "general american" yourself,. You don't have stereotypes against yourself.

My stereo types are off cource not even remotely close to the truth as I've never been in your country. I am grateful to anyone who is willing to discuss and point out typical stereo types, becouse I think prejudices are something that should be trashed when they're not useful. And this is why I keep posting these irritating topics all the time. I want to learn stuff.

Open Source has all the same ideals as communism. In responce to Omega X:

This isnt really much of a difference, communism isn't meant to be forceful in any way. The only difference is, once "the people" have decided on doing things the communist way, you cant choose to start a buissiness. Imagine for example, everyone was all in favour of open source, free software. If it was that popular, no one could get away with selling a closed source alternative.

hmmh.. try this:
There are obvious simluarities between the two imo. But what's important is that it is very unlikely that the OS movement will get corrupted in the same way that political communism historically has.

About rednecks, i don't honestly think that the people you describe have very strong opinions about the software industry. Maybe if you were to go around spreading buzz-words in texas, you could get a bit of attention. But who really cares; people make software and do whatever the fuck they want with it.

Letting people see/modify your code for free is hardly a threat to capitolism. ;)

It's a sad day in the world when people rebel against the simple idea of others giving something for free.

I don't think many people will have a problem with anyone giving software they wrote away for free. Nor would anyone have a problem with me making cookies and distributing them freely.

Open source is not communism, it's not even socialism. Open source does not take everyone's code and redistribute it evenly. Open source is voluntary.

Open source is much more like charity than it is like communism or socialism.