wrote:

I've been following these Linux threads with some interest because I
personally feel that Linux is going to, at some point, overtake
Microsoft and I also believe that it will be a Linux/Apple world with
Microsoft a way distant 3rd.

What I fail to understand however, is why Linux users seem to be so
nasty, obscene and self righteous.

Because you're reading an *.advocacy newsgroup. It's deliberately
designed to shunt unwanted traffic away from better forums. People who
think they are promoting Linux by posting in *.advocacy groups are rank
amateurs at marketing. Real marketers do not waste their time in
cesspools like this. They construct disciplined marketing campaigns,
use real artists, and talk to real suits with real businesses and real
money on the line. None of these people do it here. If you want to
move and shake for Linux, in any kind of serious way, get off of Usenet
and go get a proper job to do that sort of thing. Microsoft has *many*
Technology Evangelists, it's a known and widely recognized job title. I
don't know what the equivalent in the Linux world is, or what the
funding model is. That's left as an exercise to the serious reader.

I would take Linux marketing discussions seriously if a moderated
comp.os.linux.marketing newsgroup existed. But that won't happen. Only
a smaller number of people can get real work of that sort done. It's
more of a mailing list sort of thing. I've gone through a rough ride in
the Python universe, trying to do that sort of thing. I'm sure you'll
find people who will say I wasn't useful in the slightest; well, neither
was Guido or the PSF, and I was hardly alone in that point of view.
Tried again with OCaml; it wasn't so rough, but nothing got done. After
that, I figured out the only thing I can market is myself. All I can do
is ship a game and make lotsa money at it. The only thing industries
respect is money. If you make the money, and then articulate what you
did, people will pay attention.

In case you're wondering, I'm here to "slum it" and waste my time. Some
people space out in front of the TV; I crank up c.o.l.a. Or play Freeciv.

--
Cheers, www.indiegamedesign.com
Brandon Van Every Seattle, WA

T-shirt that landed someone a job: "I'm not an asshole,
I'm a Shaper!" http://www.teams.org.uk/shaper.htm