Teacher: No such thing as 'free software'.

Yet *another* clueless public school teacher episode. Linux blogger Ken Starks received this email from "Karen", who was horrified to discover her students not using the Approved Software.

"...Upon looking at his computer, I saw he was giving a demonstration of some sort. The student was showing the ability of the laptop and handing out Linux disks. After confiscating the disks I called a confrence with the student and that is how I came to discover you and your organization. Mr. Starks, I am sure you strongly believe in what you are doing but I cannot either support your efforts or allow them to happen in my classroom. At this point, I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to adults for guidance and discipline. I will research this as time allows and I want to assure you, if you are doing anything illegal, I will pursue charges as the law allows. Mr. Starks, I along with many others tried Linux during college and I assure you, the claims you make are grossly over-stated and hinge on falsehoods. I admire your attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people but putting linux on these machines is holding our kids back.

This is a world where Windows runs on virtually every computer and putting on a carnival show for an operating system is not helping these children at all. I am sure if you contacted Microsoft, they would be more than happy to supply you with copies of an older verison of Windows and that way, your computers would actually be of service to those receiving them...""

I don't know which to first call Karen: stupid, a liar or brainwashed .

In the first place you moronic twat, there IS such thing as 'free software'. Free =/= pirated. Linux is free $-wise and license-wise.

"I along with many others tried Linux during college and I assure you, the claims you make are grossly over-stated and hinge on falsehoods"

Somebody seems to have confused trying an OS with trying LSD.

And finally there's the overall tone of her response that just gives me the creeps. It sounds like an indignant Communist who just caught someone with 'unapproved' material. What's the lesson for today kiddies? That's right, don't look for something that might be better than what you're given. (it is)

Sorry if I ramble but this ticked me off in so many ways...

Yeah, me thinks Karen "tried" a little too much lnxstcy in college...

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"I have learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is easy and fun as hell"

:eatu

It annoys me when people spew ignorance, but think that they know what they are talking about. It reminds me of people who try and "talk shop" by interupting a group of experts or very experienced people in the field at a party, for instance. Then they monopolize the conversation further making it known how ignorant they are and then the people "in the know, " gradually finding excuses to slip away until the stupid one is left standing alone in a crowded room. That used to happen to my ex husband, "IT" quite a bit, and it never ceased to cause me to suffer from INTENSE embarrassment for him. That's how this woman makes me feel with her obvious ignorance and pious indignation.

Oh my gosh, this was hysterical. I've got to show this to my hubby...we're both Linux devotees.

Oh, I hope Karen "pursued charges"; I really do! What a complete idiot! I bet Mr. Starks had a gut-busting laugh over this.

"Putting Linux in these computers is holding our kids back". I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

Thanks for posting this, CFTeen.