OS loyalty = Religion

[Eater of Clowns]

For some reason my Mac can see my Windows and Linux hard drives, but my Windows and Linux machines can't see my Mac. It's really irritating.

That sounds like something that Apple intentionally pulls on the regular.

[Kai]

I think it's interesting that OS loyalty is handled by the same area of the brain as religion. Reminds me of ND Tyson's talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RjW5-4IiSc

The relevant part is at 6:15. Boils down to: I want someone to check what part of my brain is lighting up when I contemplate the cosmos, because when I talk about these things in this sort of excitement, it sounds like the same sorts of things that people say when they contemplate religion.

I think we've talked about the "god hole" hypothesis somewhere around here before. It's like humans seek out the most powerful explanation for everything and fill this hole with it, till something else comes around and throws it out.




Also, just to chime in, I've been using Ubuntu for 2 years and haven't looked back. 

[Fredfredly ⊂(◉‿◉)つ]

i dont feel very loyal to my OS. it was forced on me in the first place by the art department, but i grew to like it better than windows. but if i have to buy my next computer w/o parents helping im going back to windows for the price.
could never use linux tho im too computer stoopid.

[Succulent Plant]

We have a laptop on Linux and the rest are on Windows because our work stuff requires Windows software.  I run into a lot of people who are weird about Linux, when they see that I'm using it they get all excited and think I'm a fan.  Um, I'm a fan of FREE.  Linux is a free operating system, that most of the shit I use will work on, and I like the free part.

[Kai]

Of course my try to rerail the thread does nothing. 

[Lord Cataplanga]

In the ancient environment being on the wrong side of an argument could get you killed, so there's probably an evolutionary reason for our silly custom of taking silly debates (like which OS is better) extremely seriously.

Same thing happens with politics, apparently.

[Kai]

In the ancient environment being on the wrong side of an argument could get you killed, so there's probably an evolutionary reason for our silly custom of taking silly debates (like which OS is better) extremely seriously.

Same thing happens with politics, apparently.

Well well. A newbie posting a link to Less Wrong. We've got a live one. 

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I think it's interesting that OS loyalty is handled by the same area of the brain as religion. Reminds me of ND Tyson's talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RjW5-4IiSc

The relevant part is at 6:15. Boils down to: I want someone to check what part of my brain is lighting up when I contemplate the cosmos, because when I talk about these things in this sort of excitement, it sounds like the same sorts of things that people say when they contemplate religion.

I think we've talked about the "god hole" hypothesis somewhere around here before. It's like humans seek out the most powerful explanation for everything and fill this hole with it, till something else comes around and throws it out.

Also, just to chime in, I've been using Ubuntu for 2 years and haven't looked back. 

I also think it's very interesting. Especially more so when a discussion of the way OS preference affects the brain the same way as religion does breaks down into an argument over which OS is best.

[LMNO]

 1The MAC is my OS; I shall not want.

2It maketh me to remix in ProTools: It leadeth me to register for iTunes.

3It updateth my iPod: It leadeth me in the paths of the righteousness of one-click purchasing for its name's sake.

4Yea, though I surf through the valley of the shadow of DutchPron, I will fear no virus: for It art with me; thy ROM and thy RAM they comfort me.

5It preparest a suite of ergonomic gadgets before me in the presence of mine competitors: It anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over (see line 4).

6Surely built-in Obsolescence and forced OS upgrades shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Help Desk for ever.

[Luna]

1The MAC is my OS; I shall not want.

2It maketh me to remix in ProTools: It leadeth me to register for iTunes.

3It updateth my iPod: It leadeth me in the paths of the righteousness of one-click purchasing for its name's sake.

4Yea, though I surf through the valley of the shadow of DutchPron, I will fear no virus: for It art with me; thy ROM and thy RAM they comfort me.

5It preparest a suite of ergonomic gadgets before me in the presence of mine competitors: It anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over (see line 4).

6Surely built-in Obsolescence and forced OS upgrades shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Help Desk for ever.

[maphdet]

IT'S A BUNCH OF BOXES WITH FUCKING WIRES AND SHIT111111

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

I chose *insert unix flavor here* because it tends to have a much better security model than Windows. Now that Windows 7 has finally gotten stability and decent security, I have that installed on my laptop. I would bet that my brain wouldn't light up with Linux as a religion for me... However, I have many Linux geek friends that seem to fit this idea quite well. So I wonder if its OS loyalty, or simply dogmatism (religious, technical etc) that's lighting that part of the brain up?

[P3nT4gR4m]

I chose *insert unix flavor here* because it tends to have a much better security model than Windows. Now that Windows 7 has finally gotten stability and decent security, I have that installed on my laptop. I would bet that my brain wouldn't light up with Linux as a religion for me... However, I have many Linux geek friends that seem to fit this idea quite well. So I wonder if its OS loyalty, or simply dogmatism (religious, technical etc) that's lighting that part of the brain up?

Proabably true for most people who use either or and don't really give much of a fuck. Linux and Apple are alien to me so they bug me when I have to use them but that doesn't mean I'd defend windows to the death, it just happens to be the one I know how to work. Then there's the fanboys who will get on my case about it and get mocked as a matter of principle rather than because I feel strongly about the issue. No different from someone who likes a bit of star trek, or TNG or voyager coming up against a hardcore trekkie who hates everything that isn't TOS.

Some people seem to just fit this "there can only be one" mentality and whatever it is they're into, they bring rabid fundamentalism to the table.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Bottom line: nobody gives a fuck.

[P3nT4gR4m]

Not true! Many people really do give a huge fuck and it's our god given prerogative to rip the living piss out of them whenever possible