Stupid ASCII loader prompt

[Thompson, Jimi]

<SNIP>
>
> What I think is going to end up happening if they do get a decent logo

> out of this contest, is that ultimately your going to see the new logo

> used in a few places here and there on the Internet, and your going to

> see beastie used at most other places.  It will simply present more 
> confusion to non-FreeBSD users if it does anything at all.  Most 
> likely it will do nothing at all, in the same way that GM for example 
> uses multiple brands for the same iron.
</SNIP>

Personally, I find the suggestion that we remove the daemon as the logo
to be religiously offensive.  The gods of the old religion always become
the evil of the new religion.  If you're so worried about formulating a
"poltically correct" response to the daemon, the be concerned about the
politicial correctness of violing MY religious freedom.  

Frankly, I find that most religious people are all about removing
religious references UNTIL the point at which you go to remove
references to their religion.  If the logo was a cross, the christians
would be irate about having it removed.  If the logo was star of david,
the jews would be irate about having it removed.  If the logo was
cresent moon, the islamic element would be irate about having it
removed.  However, each group would rejoice if another group's icon was
removed as the logo.  

People's arugments about what name you should call your god are the
poorest excuse I've ever seen for most of the ills that befall humanity.
Any right thinking individual realizes that 1) not everyone is going to
agree with you and 2) true conversion does not come with the use of
force.  If your version of god is so totally awesome and your faith is
so great in what you believe and you aren't afraid of being converted,
why do you feel the need to try to supress everyone else?

Now, from a marketing perspective, FreeBSD could do worse than Beastie.
The fact that he is some what controversial generates a significant
amount of publicity.  Any marketing wonk will tell you that ANY
publicity is good and free publicity is the best kind.  6 months later,
people don't remember WHAT was said but they do recognize the name.  All
of it serves to build the brand.  

I see changing the logo as an act of cowardice because you are giving in
to the religious right who have their own agenda which involves
dominating everyone's ideas about religion.  I would urge the FreeBSD
community to stick to their guns and take a stand for religious freedom
for everyone.  You have a right to your logo.  It's been your logo for
20 years and no bunch of religious bigots should be able to make you
change it.  I'm not saying that they have to agree with you, but they
don't have the right to force you to change.

2 cents,

Jimi