At 04:04 PM 10/11/95 -0800, [log in to unmask] wrote:
[argument and counter-argument snipped...]
>As much as we tend to forget it, operating systems are *not* religions. You
>don't have to find the one-true-operating system. Sure it's easy to get
>excited about something new, or defensive about what you're currently using
>when *everyone else* gets excited about something new, but reality is never
>as black and white as the zealots would have you believe.
 
Dare I say it?... that *does* sound very much like a religion!  I certainly
don't want to start a religion thread in this forum, but almost everything
you say could be applied to religions from Christianity, Buddhism, Animism
through Moonies and Scientology.  From the moment of epiphany, the disciples
go forth to spread the good word followed by the priests and the zealots.
Heck, to be honest, in our industry we'd probably refer to religion as
'vapourware' -- "Trust me you'll like it after you die." -- with marketing
campaigns not much different that of Big Blue -- "If you use those other
guys' product, you'll get eternal damnation!".  I see where even the
Scientology folks have been attempting to use the Trade Secrets Laws to
protect some of their advanced teachings.
 
Well both industries certainly keep a lot of people busy but all too often
at the cost of contributing some real good, or remedying some real bad.
 
Oh well, what do you expect from a Peripatetic? :)
 
----
Jim "seMPEr" Wowchuk
Vanguard Computer Services     Internet:    [log in to unmask]
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