linuxmemes

First point, fair. I'm not arguing that. I despise Microsoft as much as the next person here. I honestly don't have strong feelings about Windows at its core, I've used it extensively, but I also always knew how to work around Microsofts bullshit, whatever. Doesn't make the paractices any less predatory. Fair.

Second point, I in no way defended Microsoft and/or Windows. I only talked about Linux there. That's quite some interpretation, equating that to defending an abuser in a toxic relationship.

And third point, yeah, "Windows is for people with no self-respect" totally sounds like psychology and business ethics. Just what is the point of such a statement? It is hardly the average users fault that Windows has the market share it has and that Microsoft has the power it has. Or that its shitty practices are allowed in the first place. Call it lazy or complacent or "no self-respect" or whatever you want that most users just accept it, unless there are alternatives that work for the majority, people are getting educated about them (and the problems with how things are otherwise) and the community actually helps with issues in good faith at large, I don't expect things to change drastically. Which is what I was trying to get at, but I certainly could have explained that significantly better. And we desperately need regulatory changes to restrict and prevent such predatory behavior in the first place.

I'll try to do the educating and helping part in my immediate surroundings, anyone I can get to try Linux (or other alternatives in other categories) is good in my book. Instead of telling my friends and family they have no self respect.

And before you read that into this, I am not talking about people who actively defend Microsofts shitty practices. I am talking about people who just use it because that's what was on the device when they got it. And created an account during setup simply because it asked for it, without giving it a second thought (since that sadly has become commonplace, which, again, I am not defending). And I assume that is the vast majority.

It sounds a lot more like you are the one categorically not respecting people who use Windows, as opposed them having no self respect. Blanket statements like that help noone.

Maybe I'm stupid here, maybe I'm misreading your comment, whatever, tell me if I'm wrong. I currently don't feel like putting more energy into this discussion, if you can call it that, but I'll see.