From owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Aug 22 19:07:54 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Received: by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix, from userid 815) id 5496C16A4CF; Sun, 22 Aug 2004 19:07:54 +0000 (GMT) Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 19:07:54 +0000 From: Murray Stokely To: Marc Fonvieille Message-ID: <20040822190754.GA96470@hub.freebsd.org> References: <20040822161153.GB68929@gothmog.gr> <20040822182540.GF49057@abigail.blackend.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20040822182540.GF49057@abigail.blackend.org> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.1i X-GPG-Key-ID: 1024D/0E451F7D X-GPG-Key-Fingerprint: E2CA 411D DD44 53FD BB4B 3CB5 B4D7 10A2 0E45 1F7D cc: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org cc: Giorgos Keramidas Subject: Re: The daemon is not a religious symbol, but... X-BeenThere: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Documentation project List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 19:07:54 -0000 On Sun, Aug 22, 2004 at 08:25:40PM +0200, Marc Fonvieille wrote: > Maybe if someone could clean, rewrite in better english my words above, > it'd be a start of "explaination." It wouldn't be a start; we've been trying to explain this in our website and documentation for years. This quote is on our website: "Many people equate the word ``daemon'' with the word ``demon,'' implying some kind of Satanic connection between UNIX and the underworld. This is an egregious misunderstanding. ``Daemon'' is actually a much older form of ``demon''; daemons have no particular bias towards good or evil, but rather serve to help define a person's character or personality. The ancient Greeks' concept of a ``personal daemon'' was similar to the modern concept of a ``guardian angel'' --- ``eudaemonia'' is the state of being helped or protected by a kindly spirit. As a rule, UNIX systems seem to be infested with both daemons and demons." There will always be new users who install FreeBSD, see beastie in the new boot loader, and mail us to complain before ever looking through the website or FAQ to read our explanations. > But I don't think we should document that... it's my opinion... > If people are not able to do the difference between a logo/drawing > without any religious signification and religion, it's their problem. It's our problem if they keep nagging us. =) I like the way OpenBSD just went in the direction of a new mascot with less negative conotations and a cooler more modern design to boot. It's a lot easier to do that sort of thing when you split off from another project though. - Murray