Does Linux attract anti-conformists?

[powerpleb]

Considering Microsoft Windows is the dominant OS and the Linux user base is relatively small, do you think that many Linux users chose there OS because they see it as an act of rebellion?

I recently put a poll in OPP regarding political alignment/categorisation (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=913764)and was startled that the dominant political ideologies of our era seemed under-represented.

Furthermore, in this article on 40 reasons to use Vista rather than Linux (http://www.itwire.com/content/view/20545/1103/1/2/), reason 39 is 'Vista doesn’t turn you into a left-leaning, anti-capitalist socialist.'

Now I was one of them long before using Linux but it's an interesting point. Are Linux users the radicals of the computing world?

[slmouradian]

you can argue the same for any OS that isn't Windows. Are Mac fanboys rebels?

[RedPandaFox]

+1 I try in every way to distance myself from people in my town. Had a terrible time in school and to get back at the people who put me through hell im showing them being different is better then being conformist

[powerpleb]

you can argue the same for any OS that isn't Windows. Are Mac fanboys rebels?
No, really not the same league. TV tells people to buy Macs all the time and has hip, quasi-freaky music with shiny plastic. They are like so cool right now.
They may be a little anti-conformist, but only in the way that a lawyer might wear a pink shirt to work.

[cb951303]

Considering Microsoft Windows is the dominant OS and the Linux user base is relatively small, do you think that many Linux users chose there OS because they see it as an act of rebellion?

I recently put a poll in OPP regarding political alignment/categorisation (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=913764)and was startled that the dominant political ideologies of our era seemed under-represented.

Furthermore, in this article on 40 reasons to use Vista rather than Linux (http://www.itwire.com/content/view/20545/1103/1/2/), reason 39 is 'Vista doesn’t turn you into a left-leaning, anti-capitalist socialist.'

Now I was one of them long before using Linux but it's an interesting point. Are Linux users the radicals of the computing world?

Most of the people I know switch to linux because they are sick of windows. It doesn't necessarily qualify as an anti-conformist act.

[SZF2001]

"Jeez, I'm not a conformist, I'm an ANTI-conformist, along with all these other people who share my views and ideas because we are just NOT conforming. Why do you ask that we all dress the same again? And listen to the same music? No you don't see it because TOGETHER we AREN'T CONFORMING. Now let me show you my Linux computer that NO ONE ELSE WOULD USE..."

There's some weird logic in this thread.

[joninkrakow]

No, really not the same league. TV tells people to buy Macs all the time and has hip, quasi-freaky music with shiny plastic. They are like so cool right now.
They may be a little anti-conformist, but only in the way that a lawyer might wear a pink shirt to work.

Be careful what you say, because it could reveal more about your own prejudiced thinking than about those you are attempting to describe/characterize.

I, for one, have been using Macs since loong before it was "in", and have seldom seen any Mac ad, on TV or otherwise. I used Macs because they simply worked and were fun to use. Most Mac users I've ever known use(d) Macs because they simply worked and were fun to use. In fact, the few switchers I've known switched because they were tired of a system that was complicated and a pain to use--and they've found Macs simply work, and are fun to use.

Now.... I use Linux because it simply works (except when it doesn't--but that's where these forums come in--always answered _every_ question I've had and solved every problem I've had), but more so, Linux is fun to use. No non-conformistism here, nor with anybody I know who uses Mac, nor Linux, now that I think of it.

-Jon

[pp.]

Non- or anti-conformist might be a bit too strong a term.

Some of the people attracted to FOSS and in particular to GNU/Linux are those who do not rely on what's usually done but on their own evaluation of things. Since that's a thinking habit or pattern which does not restrict itself to the selection of the desktop technology, you might find the same or similar people in the same political parties, with similar concepts and concerns about 'the environment' and similar decisions concerning their life styles and so on.

[TheSlipstream]

Linux is just better. It's not about not conforming, it's about not using crap.

[EdThaSlayer]

Peace brothers, peace and love. Don't let the capitalist system control you, don't let the corporations rule the world. Free yourself people, be different, equality for all. Nope, it doesn't attract anti-conformists.:)

[billgoldberg]

Considering Microsoft Windows is the dominant OS and the Linux user base is relatively small, do you think that many Linux users chose there OS because they see it as an act of rebellion?

I recently put a poll in OPP regarding political alignment/categorisation (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=913764)and was startled that the dominant political ideologies of our era seemed under-represented.

Furthermore, in this article on 40 reasons to use Vista rather than Linux (http://www.itwire.com/content/view/20545/1103/1/2/), reason 39 is 'Vista doesn’t turn you into a left-leaning, anti-capitalist socialist.'

Now I was one of them long before using Linux but it's an interesting point. Are Linux users the radicals of the computing world?

I don't think so.

I use Ubuntu because it is better (for my needs).

[ilrudie]

'Vista doesn’t turn you into a left-leaning, anti-capitalist socialist.'

That statement is just ridiculous. Thats like saying 'Vista turns you into a flat-earthing, anti-competitive monopolist' or 'OS X makes you commit hate crimes and kick kittens (when you aren't too busy committing hate crimes).' That guy needs to step out of the Church of Microsoft, see the sun for a change and calm down. (Or its a mildly offensive joke, so many of his points are just plain wrong I can't tell if he's joking or just ill-informed)

[kirsis]

I admit that the first two times I tried Linux, it was just to try something new out and to one up my conformist buddies :)

But it didn't stick.

Then a year ago I started using Ubuntu out of practical reasons and it stuck.

So it may attract anti-conformists but the people that stick with it do so because it's worth sticking with, imo.