Howling Mad

Microsoft's claims that Linux's reputation for being secure was a myth got smacked around the web a whole lot lately, but I didn't really comment, mostly because I was just so frustrated at it. The problem with an article like this is that it's very good for what it's intended to do, and my hat goes off to them in away. It's very, very smart.

The core of the problem here can be summed up in a relationship I had when I was young and stupid(er), but chances are you can relate in some way. Some people are just liars. You get to know it about them, they'll say whatever they think they need to say to get what they're after... it becomes a known entity.

The most dangerous though, are the ones who mix 90% truth with 10% lies. They're just fundamentally dangerous to have around, because they'll say something, and then throw out truth after truth, which, while being true, have little fundamental relation to their original argument. Which means everything, including the conversation itself, degenerates into a rigged piece of crap. Unfortunately, if you're not careful, because all those other things are true, and you can recognize them as true, there's the temptation to automatically associate truth with the base claim.

This is also akin to something else I've talked about, which is where there's a temptation to start with a conclusion you want to be true, and then to work your way backwards, filling in as you go with whatever is handy.

Here's the thing: 90% of everything the Microsoft spokesman says is true, it just doesn't really fundamentally relate to his base claim. That's one aspect of why what he's saying is both brilliant (in an evil way) and dangerous.

The more insidious problem is that I'd have to imagine few hardcore Linux fans are really recognizing the words for what they are, which is part of their design. They're left-brained thinkers, by and large, all hard edges and absolutes. While I haven't really looked around to verify I'd have to imagine they're going at it like howler monkeys over this.

Which goes back to the more insidious problem, which is something 'moderate' Mac users can relate to, moderate democrats can relate to, and moderate republicans can relate to, and 'moderate' Linux users can relate to: when you two sides are each whispering into a different ear, going off like a howler monkey doesn't do your side any favors.