• PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@feddit.uk
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    3 days ago

    i installed linux mint on my sisters household PC last week.

    my dad did his usual grumblings about “it should be windows” and i just said “i’ve been out of the windows ecosystem completely for the last 5 years and partially for another 3 years beyond that. i no longer provide support for windows, if you want them to have windows you need to support it”

    he went quiet after that.

    • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
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      3 days ago

      Honestly that sounds like a jerk move. Why would you force someone to use Linux? It isn’t your computer and if you are helping them you should do what they want. I wouldn’t be surprised if they bought a new machine and then ghosted you.

        • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
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          3 days ago

          Maybe I’m just reading into it but I read it as they wiped the drive and installed Linux without asking for explicit permission.

          • schematic@lemm.ee
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            3 days ago

            Well, based on the rest of their comment, they were “providing support”, so the implication is that the sister asked for help and received it.

            I would assume that they informed their sister as to what would be installed. I don’t think it’s fair to assume the worst without context.

      • PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@feddit.uk
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        3 days ago

        It’s not hers. it’s one of my computers that i am deploying to her house for her and her family to use.

        It’s technichally for my neice but the rest of the family all also have access.

        no one in that household has expressed a specific preference of operating system. other than my brother in law texting me to tell me one of the old games he tried to install doesnt work (i did promptly offer to “make it work” but he declined).

        I have no problem with them installing windows on it if thats what they want. they wont be coming to me for technical support if they do though.

      • Hanrahan@slrpnk.net
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        3 days ago

        Honestly that sounds like a jerk move.

        Quite the opposite,

        Why would you force someone to use Linux?

        In what world is that force ? He wasnt holding a gun to her head, the opposite, he’s freeing her from stupidity.

        Decent people help others, they don’t go along with their stupid ideas before at least trying to convince them its a stupid idea. An allegory perhaps, your friend comes over, they have a 1/2 dozen beers, they’re going to drive home… In your world it seems it’s force to ask them not to and to stay over.

        It isn’t your computer and if you are helping them you should do what they want

        Helping them is the phrase you seem to be confused about. It’s his sister, not his boss at the office.

        • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
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          3 days ago

          Some people actually want Windows. That’s not a “stupid idea” and it definitely shouldn’t be compared to drunk driving. I’ve lost people to drunk driving but last time I checked no one died or was fired because they use Windows. The evangelical rhetoric around Linux is harmful to Linux. Don’t go around promoting Linux like it is somehow going to be worlds ahead of Windows.

          If someone is looking for a Windows alternative it might be worth a mention. Don’t turn into some sort of Linux sales person. Linux can be good but it isn’t a Windows alternative. It requires some getting used to.