Re: Are the FSF helpful?

["Ciaran O'Riordan" <ciaran@member.fsf.org>]

Thanks for the interesting response.

On Thu, Jan 02, 2003 at 02:38:12AM +0100, Bert de Jong wrote:
> But my points are:
> 
> - if you look at it from a practical angle, people will dislike to use the
> name GNU/Linux because it's too long and not easy to pronounce.
[snip]
> What has occured with the names GNU, GNU/Linux and Linux is
> referred to by linguists as "metonymia pars pro toto", or "calling a thing
> by a part of it." People have started to call the entire OS Linux because
> it's nice and short.

When talking to people I sometimes just say "GNU", unless I don't
think they are aware of the connection between GNU and Linux.  I used
to find it awkward to say "GNU/Linux" but now it rolls of my tongue.

When typing, I often abbreviate to GNU or GNU/L (if talking to techs).

> - what can you do if even the biggest GNU/Linux distribution distributors
> call their product "SuSE Linux", "Red Hat Linux" etc. instead of SuSE
> GNU/Linux? If you want to start somewhere, I think that's where you should
> go first..

The FSF contacted them a while ago.  Mandrakesoft now call the OS
GNU/Linux in places.  RedHat said they wouldn't change because it's a
purly commercial issue, people are more aware of "Linux".  If the Free
Software community helped propagate the name GNU or GNU/Linux then it
could become more viable to market such products as RedHat GNU/Linux.

> You know, I'd go along with you if you proposed a sort of compromise to
> say we should use "GNU/Linux" if we mention it in FAQs, HOW-TOs or
> technical documentation, because there it's appropriate to use precise
> technical terms.

That's Great!
As I said, it's just the more the merrier.

I'll make patches for the docs and submit them when I'm done.


Happily,
Ciaran O'Riordan