Distro Bashing - everyone needs a hobby.

[dos2unix]

I have a neighbor down the road, he has an opinion on everything, and he constantly feels the need to share his opinions with me for some reason.

Several times a week he tells me why Apple Mac is better than Microsoft. Chevy is better than Ford. Bridgestone is better than Goodyear. iPhone is better than Android. LG televisions are better than Samsung. Nissan is better than Honda. Texaco gasoline is better than Exxon. American Airlines is better than Alaska Airlines. Suzuki is better than Yamaha. AMD is better than Intel. You name it, he has an opinion about it. The one thing he doesn't really have an opinion on, is Linux. Because he doesn't use it.

I have my own opinions about all the things listed above, and most of them don't agree with his opinions. I have my own opinions about Linux as well. I suppose we all do at some level. But why do we feel the need to tell people that something or someone sucks? Why do people get so offended when someone disagrees with them?

The thing is... what works for me may not work for you. What I like, may not be what you like... and that's OK.
I like redheads (my wife is a redhead), maybe you like blondes. I like off-roading and riding ATV's, maybe you like drifting and NASCAR racing. It's OK for us to like different things. It really is.

I like classical music, rock n roll, country western and jazz. Maybe you like hip-hop and rap. (OK maybe rap isn't OK!) just kidding. We don't have to be the same. We don't look the same, we don't talk the same, and we don't all use the same Linux distro. It's OK.

Some people have had Chevy's, and they broke down, so they like Ford. Other people have had Fords, and they break down so they like Chevy. We all have different past experiences. We all learn differently. Many of us think differently than you. It's OK.

If you like Debian, use it! If you like Arch, use it! If you like Ubuntu, use it! If you like Fedora, use it! It's great if it works for you.
I've used just about all of them, and they all work for me. I have a favorite, just like the rest of you do. But I don't feel the need to tell you your favorite sucks, just because it's not my favorite. I can like vanilla, you can like Chocolate. It's OK. We can like different things.

There are things I can do with a 1 ton dually diesel pickup, that I can't do with a Honda Civic. There are things I can do in Hellcat/Demon Challenger I can't do in a Rolls Royce or Bentley. So, at some point, is does depend on little on what you're trying to do. But for the most part any car will get you there.

If you like your distro and it works for you. Great!!! Use it! But don't feel the need to tell me mine sucks because it's not the same as yours. The other thing about distros is that they change over time. I hear people say things like "I tried that distro back in 2008, and it sucked". Maybe it did, 2008 was 17 years ago. Things change. Distros change. Some distro that were around in 2010 are gone now. Other distros that didn't exist 4 or 5 years ago are being used now.

Some people don't like certain distros for political reasons. This one is corporately backed by company X, that one is backed by company Z. That distro was made in China, this distro was made in Russia. Fine, if you don't like it, don't use it. Nobody is forcing you to.

It's OK to make suggestions and tell someone to try something different. It's even OK to tell them what you like. But when we feel the need to tell someone what they're using sucks because it's not what you're using... maybe the problem isn't the distro they're using.

 

[Brickwizard]

It has been said before By @KGIII this forum is not distribution concentric [yes we have a few members who think their favourite distribution is the greatest thing since sliced bread] But even those members will bend over backwards to try and help you solve any problems you may have

up until recently I used to run around 8- 10 distributions + have another 10 or more on ext drives for testing, now I run 3/4 and that's it

There is the blinding exception to what i have said so far, and that is youngsters bleating they can't install a certain pen-testing distro, because they have no Linux experience, I have been castigated in the past by one member for bias against said distribution, because I tell the poster to read the full docs first and point out it is not a beginners' distribution, and I always say I am not bias against any distribution that is being used as intended.

My pegged post in getting started "what is the best" is echoed by most of the regular active members [click on members in the blue header bar above and look at most post and highest reaction score to work out who they are.]

 

[theLegionWithin]

youngsters bleating they cany install a certain pen-testing distro, because they have no Linux experience

kali should be renamed to rtfm

 

[CaffeineAddict]

kali should be renamed to rtfm

Agree, nobody likes to read the manuals and expects others to solve their sudden issues using Kali.
No matter how big noob one is, if they're willing to read the manuals and articles online every problem is solvable without anyone's help

Kali if not difficult to use at all, I never really understood why people have problem with Kali but you explain the problem well! RTFM.

I also don't like when people tell new Kali users to not use Kali because Kali requires XP, because it really doesn't, all it requires is dedication to learn.
By telling a newcomer to not use Kali, all that you really do is drive them away, be it away from forums or away from Linux so please don't do it.

I was total noob some 15 yrs ago, and my first Linux OS was Backtrack which is predecessor of Kali, there were problems but I managed to get around them just fine even though I was noob, because wanted to learn no matter how hard it was.
If I listened to other people not to use it I'd never learn anything and probably wouldn't even use Linux today.

 

[The Duck]

Agree, nobody likes to read the manuals and expects others to solve their sudden issues using Kali.
No matter how big noob one is, if they're willing to read the manuals and articles online every problem is solvable without anyone's help

Kali if not difficult to use at all, I never really understood why people have problem with Kali but you explain the problem well! RTFM.

Some folks is just lazy and have always had others do the work for them.

 

[dos2unix]

The problem with Kali isn't the distro itself. It's the wannabe hacker-boi's.
But Kali doesn't have anything that can't be installed on other distro's.
Parrot and NST already come with most of these, in some cases things Kali doesn't have.

 

[Brickwizard]

Parrot and NST already come with most of these, in some cases things Kali doesn't have.

New Parrot Tool: Rocket

Hello everyone! I’m really excited to announce a new tool that will be released in the next ParrotOS: Rocket! We are starting the beta test, but what is Rocket? What is it all about? It is a launcher, written entirely in Python using PyQt6 for the GUI, to launch Docker containers, specifically...

community.parrotsec.org

 

[KGIII]

Didn't we just have a 'distro bashing' thread?

sighs

I suppose that dead horse won't flog itself.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

I suppose that dead horse won't flog itself.

I was thinking about something...
What if forums rule is made stating linux.org is distro agnostic and favorizing or bashing any distro is not welcome.

I'm sure the rule would not prevent it but over time it may have an effect as long as it's not abused.

 

[APTI]

people get offended when somebody goes against their beliefs. I am no different but I do try to catch myself. The issue is that many do not. Although some people will poke the sleeping bear and try to start an issue but in the end it is all linux and it does not matter what flavor (except android flavor ick) it is still linux.

We each like our flavor of linux because it works well for us and we feel therefor it is the best and others should see that. I am not a fan of mint because of the stupid reason that it looks way too much like windoze. However people leaving windoze love it because it is familiar looking to them.

To each their own and I am trying to feel that way also.

 

[KGIII]

What if forums rule is made stating linux.org is distro agnostic and favorizing or bashing any distro is not welcome.

Meh... Keep it to a dull roar, including bashing people who opt to use other OSes. You know, be civil about it.

We have actually had to address that before - specifically with Windows - as it was way overboard, repetitive, etc...

There are times when things are less than perfectly civil and I usually just keep an eye on it, figuring that they'll tucker themselves out eventually. I skim every post made to this site. So, I'm usually aware of what's going on.

 

[bob466]

Everyone has an opinion especially when it comes to Linux Distros...you don't like one you try another...that simple, so why bash others ?

Some claim Linux Mint is a beginners Distro and they like it because it looks like windoze...if that were true we wouldn't have so many beginners coming on this Forum asking how to download the ISO and install it...not to mention how to use it.

Come to think about...Mint does look a bit like windoze...

 

[Condobloke]

Linux Mint 22.1

 

[wizardfromoz]

I like nearly all of Ray's input, always have. I put a Love on his OP.

The only thing I would slightly qualify, and it is IMO, and not about to become any sort of rule or limitation on free speech is with the following line

It's OK to make suggestions and tell someone to try something different.

If a Member starts a thread "Need help installing Ubuntu", I suggest don't tell them to try Linux Mint, or Debian, or Arch or Fedora or other.

Try to help them install Ubuntu. If that does not sit well with you, stay out of the equation? We have plenty of experienced Helpers here, one or more of them will assist.

If the thread goes to 6 pages and 120 posts and is still not bearing fruit, you could ask the OP "Is not having Ubuntu a deal breaker? If not, you could try Linus Mint?" - but remember that if it does not work for Ubuntu it may not work for Mint.

Have a think about it and try to help them with what they asked for.

Cheers, and keep up the good help.

Wizard

 

[APTI]

I like nearly all of Ray's input, always have. I put a Love on his OP.

The only thing I would slightly qualify, and it is IMO, and not about to become any sort of rule or limitation on free speech is with the following line



If a Member starts a thread "Need help installing Ubuntu", I suggest don't tell them to try Linux Mint, or Debian, or Arch or Fedora or other.

Try to help them install Ubuntu. If that does not sit well with you, stay out of the equation? We have plenty of experienced Helpers here, one or more of them will assist.

If the thread goes to 6 pages and 120 posts and is still not bearing fruit, you could ask the OP "Is not having Ubuntu a deal breaker? If not, you could try Linus Mint?" - but remember that if it does not work for Ubuntu it may not work for Mint.

Have a think about it and try to help them with what they asked for.

Cheers, and keep up the good help.

Wizard

I can agree with this except in cases where the person is clearly using the wrong tool. Primarily the people that have zero linux experience but insist on Kali. There are some cases we need to nudge you do a different distro.

 

[KGIII]

If that does not sit well with you, stay out of the equation?

I'm not going to point any fingers but I think a subset of people feel the urge to reply in many threads.

It reminds me of the people on Windows forums who are having issues but someone responds with, "Install Linux." That's not actually helping them solve their Windows problems. (I know this is shocking to some people, but there are all sorts of Windows users that know about alternatives but still distinctly want to use Windows.)

We have rules covering this already, if we choose to enforce them. If it's not spelled out, it's certainly a matter of civility and helpfulness.

In your scenario, their reply is off-topic and could be removed as such. It might make some folks unhappy the first few dozen times we enforced the rule but I think they'd adjust in time.

I think I could get behind that rule enforcement. We have an off-topic section.

Historically speaking, we're pretty lenient with off-topic stuff and I'd not want it to be too draconic. I'm really not a 'bend them to my iron will' kinda guy.

We, as the tools of moderation, could probably even start off with just a quick reminder. When/if we see it, we can quote the post and suggest they remain on topic. A few nudges like that might work.

I'm just spitballing after my first glass of wine.

 

[APTI]

I'm not going to point any fingers but I think a subset of people feel the urge to reply in many threads.

It reminds me of the people on Windows forums who are having issues but someone responds with, "Install Linux." That's not actually helping them solve their Windows problems. (I know this is shocking to some people, but there are all sorts of Windows users that know about alternatives but still distinctly want to use Linux.)

We have rules covering this already, if we choose to enforce them. If it's not spelled out, it's certainly a matter of civility and helpfulness.

In your scenario, their reply is off-topic and could be removed as such. It might make some folks unhappy the first few dozen times we enforced the rule but I think they'd adjust in time.

I think I could get behind that rule enforcement. We have an off-topic section.

Historically speaking, we're pretty lenient with off-topic stuff and I'd not want it to be too draconic. I'm really not a 'bend them to my iron will' kinda guy.

We, as the tools of moderation, could probably even start off with just a quick reminder. When/if we see it, we can quote the post and suggest they remain on topic. A few nudges like that might work.

I'm just spitballing after my first glass of wine.

you rock as mod. Hard to find one that is not power hungry. It is like being L.E.O. some do the job others abuse. Glad you are the latter.

 

[KGIII]

There are some cases we need to nudge you do a different distro.

Or you could just not respond to that thread. We don't really need to nudge them (though a part of me agrees with you.

We could do that in a productive manner AND remain on-topic.

For example:

"I think you should be aware, before going any further, that Kali is an advanced distro that is very focused on providing penetration tools. It does not turn you into a hacker, nor does it make you a more proficient Linux user. There are many other distros out there that you might find easier to use and, after that, you might return to trying Kali some day."

 

[wizardfromoz]

Primarily the people that have zero linux experience but insist on Kali.

Agreed.

However that does exclude Members who have

• been here for seven or eight years
• helped any number of other people with their experience
• clearly demonstrated their skills in all sorts of Linux areas and
• clearly asked for specific help with details of what they are seeking to accomplish

Such Members do not need a "nudge" in another direction, I hope you would agree?

'Nuff said

Wizard

 

[APTI]

Or you could just not respond to that thread. We don't really need to nudge them (though a part of me agrees with you.

We could do that in a productive manner AND remain on-topic.

For example:

"I think you should be aware, before going any further, that Kali is an advanced distro that is very focused on providing penetration tools. It does not turn you into a hacker, nor does it make you a more proficient Linux user. There are many other distros out there that you might find easier to use and, after that, you might return to trying Kali some day."

I hate Political correctness but I think you worded that paragraph very eloquently. When it come to using Kali the beginners need somebody to push them away until they are ready for it.