Posted by MicrosoftCustomer on May 21, 2007, at 23:57:34
In reply to Re: glad things are working, posted by Dr. Bob on May 21, 2007, at 8:31:01
> > A friend of mine said that using Linux might protect you more than using Microsoft.
>
> Who uses Microsoft? :-)
>
> BobExactly what does that mean? Is it intended to suggest that a person so diminishes their humanity by using the wrong brand of software that they are no longer recognizable as persons to a licensed psychiatrist? Since any educated adult knows a significant portion of all computer users use Microsoft, most rational educated readers would conclude a statement denying the existance of those users might be an attempt to dehumanize, or to *put down* Microsoft users. Or is it one of those "just kidding" situations where the bully redoubles their attack against anyone who refuses to go along with the insulting joke?
This is nothing new. Harrassment and ridicule of Microsoft users has been a binding group ritual among computer enthusiasts with less market power for more than a decade. Building one's peer group by insulting a convenient outgroup is about the oldest group-building trick in the book. But is Robert Hsiung going to apologize for insulting most computer users? No. He will more likely insult me twice by calling me incivil for confronting his scatter-gun insult. He will probably abuse his medical prestige by challenging my ability to test reality, which in this case requires sorting obvious insults from constructive rhetoric.
Apologize or continue your abusive behavior. It's your choice, doc. I'm really concerned if you still don't get it, that we can see insults just as well as you or better, but that you let yourself insult people on your board, but attack us when we do the same, well, I'm afraid maybe you will never get it.
poster:MicrosoftCustomer
thread:758315
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20070423/msgs/758725.html