> Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 09:42:36 -0500 > From: Florin Iucha <florin at iucha.net> > On Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 09:24:27AM -0500, Chris Schumann wrote: >>Apache, Eclipse, and many many others under >> different licenses. > > How many were influenced by, or based on GNU software? Let's assume all of them. I assert that it is irrelevant, but please, share your thinking. >> However culturally, we identify the software we install as "Linux >> distributions" and say we run "Linux," even while we are all fully >> aware that what actually runs is a large collection of software from >> many sources. > > Do you ever change your mind about something? Absolutely. Now I expect your logic is that a sea change like this (getting everyone in the community(/ies) to always use "GNU/Linux" instead of "Linux" has to start somewhere. I can't be sure. But I'll respond that it has already started, and doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and besides, we all know that a Linux distribution (which really is what we all run), has a lot of software in it, and much is owed to GNU, etc. etc. >> IMHO, singling out GNU as *THE* contributor above all others is >> unhelpful, too wordy, inconvenient, and confusing. > > How is that different from singling out "Linux" as *THE* "thing"? It's already been done. It is the de facto nomenclature. Again, this is just my opinion, and I'm open to an argument as to why a name change (of this group, of the community, and/or of every distribution) has value for me, the existing community, and to those looking to participate. Chris