Linux move to FreeBSD

[Lane]

On Sunday 03 July 2005 09:11, wizlayer wrote:
> On Saturday 02 July 2005 07:35 pm, sparxz at excite.com wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > I am a user of SUSE Linux, and I was thinking of
> > trying out BSD. After reading as much information
> > as I could about the three variants of BSD vs.
> > Linux. On technical merit, I was very impressed.
> >
> > FreeBSD looks like a good stating place for me,
> > but one think about FreeBSD makes me uncomfortable
> > is the symbol/emblem that the OS uses. That is a "devil" !
> >
> > I would like to know if possible how this came about,
> > and what thinking was behind it. From experience, I consider
> > symbols to be very significant, Historically, psychologically
> > and even spiritually.
> >
> > Best regards
> >
> > Mark
> >
> > PS. Please can u e-mail me on this e-mail sparxz at excite.com
> > when an answer becomes available.
>
> Oh, boy....  Here we go again...
>
> No, not the Devil...  A daemon.  No, not a demon.  A Daemon, an
> invisible being not necessarily good and not necessarily evil,
> but has the potential of both...  In that sense, it is no more
> evil or good as you or I...  Only the potential is there.
>
> And naturally, because FreeBSD is such a powerful system, if you
> use it for evil (which we are all capable of), it would be on us,
> not the daemon...  Heck, not even the "Devil" because the "Devil
> didn't make you do it..."  _You_ did it!  :)
>
> This is getting old.  Maybe FreeBSD should turn membership-only
> (j/k but thinking of the gasps and grumbles of discontent).
>
> Or maybe there should be a required visit at freebsd.com to the
> following link which explains it all:
>
> http://www.freebsd.org/copyright/daemon.html
>
> So "unlearned" people will quit asking the same questions over and
> over on the quetsions list:
>
> Hope that "clears your conscience..."  :D
>
> WizLayer
> _______________________________________________
It truly boggles the mind at how frequently people protest the on-going 
decision to use beastie on the public face of FreeBSD.  It's almost like a 
guest who comes into your home and then starts redecorating!

I like the "members-only" solution, but of course that is not practical. 

Maybe FreeBSD could offer a branch for each of the worlds nine million 
religions and 8.5 million christian sub sects!  This way we create an 
operating system that exists in the context of your personal religious belief 
system, and helps you along your own path to enlightenment (or heaven, or 
whatever your particular religion is all about).  

There are some hurdles to be overcome, but surely the effort would be worth 
it.

For instance, since some religions have strict rules against work on their 
"Sabbath," the OS would have to shut itself down for 24 hours once every week 
-- usually Sunday, but I think some religions call Saturday the "Sabbath."

Since most religions have some sort of rule against murder, the developers 
would have to come up with new names for commands like "kill."  But, of 
course, the term "kill" implies what is actually going on, so it may be best 
to completely do away with the concept and just let processes live as long as 
the creator allows.

The ports tree would have to be trimmed of offensive programs such as "sex," 
and utilities such as "god" must be changed, to keep from offending any 
sensibilities.

In fact, such an OS would probably serve the devout best if it also had an 
active firewall which would protect it from the proselytizing of ChristBSD 
and the jihaad of AllahBSD.  I'm not sure what it is about JewBSD that we 
would need to protect against, but the firewall should be configurable to 
allow or disallow contact with that bunch, as well.

Ugh!  Look at the time!  I'm late for church, already!  And I haven't even 
addressed "GodLessBSD!"

Oh well.  Maybe someone else can pick that up .... meanwhile I've got to see 
about getting my tongue out of my cheek before the pastor sees me.

lane