Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:39:34 -0600 From: Chad Perrin <perrin@apotheon.com> To: FreeBSD Questions <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: freebsd - for the win Message-ID: <20100613003934.GB54426@guilt.hydra> In-Reply-To: <20100612201255.GD97434@libertas.local.camdensoftware.com> References: <86eigdx6vl.fsf@red.stonehenge.com> <4C13320C.5090700@infracaninophile.co.uk> <20100612153813.GA53180@guilt.hydra> <4C13C737.6050400@infracaninophile.co.uk> <AANLkTimVznpvn-4zNSpD38dvTWHsZRCxeqMVT2oc4FCs@mail.gmail.com> <20100612201255.GD97434@libertas.local.camdensoftware.com>
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--6sX45UoQRIJXqkqR Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable On Sat, Jun 12, 2010 at 01:12:55PM -0700, Chip Camden wrote: >=20 > Call me fatalistic, but I think there is a direct relationship between > FreeBSD's high quality and it's lack of popularity. If it catered to the > common herd, its compromises would be many. I believe there is such a relationship, too. I think the obvious way to interpret this recognition of the relationship is as a causal relationship where lack of popularity is what (helps/makes) FreeBSD maintain higher quality, but I think that's mostly the wrong way around. Rather, it is the focus on quality over quantity that keeps it "unpopular" (relative to other OSes, anyway). I also believe that is the correct decision, without reservation. There are things that could be done to improve FreeBSD's suitability and attractiveness to a wider audience without sacrificing that focus on quality at all -- that could, in fact, improve that attractiveness while serving the focus in quality. Such things tend to get neglected, though, and I think it is in part because of a negative reaction to the idea that populism involves sacrifices of quality. Popularity, per se, does not result in poorer quality. Populism, however, does -- and both greater popularity *and* a desire for greater popularity can create populism. Note that I'm using the term "populism" in a pejorative, apolitical sense, and not in the sense of advocacy for the rights of the people, et cetera. Anyway . . . for my OS of choice (FreeBSD at the moment), I'd much rather err on the side of elitism and quality than on that of egalitarianism and quantity. I just find the occasional statement (which I do *not* think is what you were saying) that we should actively *avoid* popularity for the sake of quality quite annoying. I just find the occasional statement (which I do *not* think is what you were saying) that we should actively *avoid* popularity for the sake of quality . . . well, I find it quite annoying. --=20 Chad Perrin [ original content licensed OWL: http://owl.apotheon.org ] --6sX45UoQRIJXqkqR Content-Type: application/pgp-signature Content-Disposition: inline -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.14 (FreeBSD) iEYEARECAAYFAkwUKMYACgkQ9mn/Pj01uKWwZgCeMyu1xalh414GCWtLVS+Au+3h nFMAniWAY9OjceuJqM8oRPlRCAvU8wUG =n80w -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --6sX45UoQRIJXqkqR--
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