From owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Aug 22 21:21:42 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B096B16A4CE; Sun, 22 Aug 2004 21:21:42 +0000 (GMT) Received: from abigail.blackend.org (blackend.org [212.11.35.229]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8962543D39; Sun, 22 Aug 2004 21:21:41 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from marc@blackend.org) Received: from abigail.blackend.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) i7MLLdkZ058823; Sun, 22 Aug 2004 23:21:39 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from marc@abigail.blackend.org) Received: (from marc@localhost) by abigail.blackend.org (8.12.11/8.12.11/Submit) id i7MLLc2u058822; Sun, 22 Aug 2004 23:21:39 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from marc) Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 23:21:38 +0200 From: Marc Fonvieille To: Murray Stokely Message-ID: <20040822212138.GG49057@abigail.blackend.org> References: <20040822161153.GB68929@gothmog.gr> <20040822182540.GF49057@abigail.blackend.org> <20040822190754.GA96470@hub.freebsd.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20040822190754.GA96470@hub.freebsd.org> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.1i X-Useless-Header: blackend.org X-Operating-System: FreeBSD 4.10-PRERELEASE 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 21:21:42 -0000 On Sun, Aug 22, 2004 at 07:07:54PM +0000, Murray Stokely wrote: > 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." > It's perfect. > 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. > If these users really think before... they would realize that an operating system can't be evil, the only evil part is the user :)) > > 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. > I like the fish or the cat. I disliked the policeman :) But to talk about our mascot, beastie comes from Unix roots (daemon processes), we know the real origin as stated in the text you quoted. I don't see why we should change the mascot just for some people not able (or who don't want) to understand things. Look at http://www.freebsd.org/art.html it's difficult to see anything really scary or threatening. Marc