Jpalmer/Supporting nonsupport
From FBSD_tips
Some software vendors pretend we don't exist, yet we bend over backwards to support them.
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[edit] Boring preface before making the point
This morning, I sit down to my computer, and decide to start working like I do most days. I check my emails, I look in on IRC to make sure everything is in order, I converse with a couple colleagues over the internet in various ways. I start checking logs on servers from the previous day.. my normal routine. Then it happened. Another person in ##FreeBSD @freenode asking how to get flash working.
At first, I just stated my opinion, that he should think about avoiding flash content. Normally, that is about as far as I will take a topic like that. It's pointless for me to go any further, because I don't like flash. I don't use flash, I don't install flash, I don't spend time on sites that only use flash, and I don't order from companies who don't have a flash alternative website. I can't help this user fix his trouble, I can't help diagnose the problem, so I usually just let it go. Not today.
The next words were "Can you help me debug the problem" and for some reason, I decided to engage the user, and explain the above to him. I explained my position, and he claimed he just had to have this content. So, me being a problem solver, I asked him what the content is, so I can suggest alternatives. It turns out it's a streaming music site. Perfect. there are thousands of them available so I open up google, and get ready to perform a search to help him out. I look back in the channel, and he's commenting on how it's the only site that plays the music he likes, and other such nonsense.
Instantly, I've lost interest in helping him. Instead, it's time to educate!
[edit] Stop supporting those that don't support you!
Certain companies have decided it's not worth their time to support FreeBSD (and other alternative OS's, not just specifically FreeBSD) yet we still bend over backwards, jump through hoops, and spend hours to utilize their software. They have no intention of supporting us. Why in the world are we supporting them? I say it's time to stand up. If companies don't want to support us natively, lets make them aware in a capacity they can understand. BOYCOTT! Ok. Ok. that may be a little far fetched. But we as individuals can do our part! How, you ask?
[edit] Take action
Send emails! If you want to access a website for something that interests you, and it is only available in flash, let the webmaster and the company know that they just lost a potential costomer or contributer, simply because you can't view their site. Suggest that they offer a non-flash portal, or stop using flash completely. If these companies are made aware of the problems their clients are having, viewing the content; they'll think twice about USING that content. Once commercial entities stop using the content, or fill out the occasional "how are we doing" polls, adobe will have no choice but to take notice.
I'm not assuming this will happen overnight. And indeed it may never happen at all. I just don't understand why we go out of our ways to help keep these companies in business, when they pretend we don't exist.
The real part I don't understand, is why it's acceptable for some software vendors to do these things, and yet others get flamed for hours on end for doing the exact same thing. It's like we'll tolerate it from XYZ, but not from ABC.
[edit] Conclusion
Stop the foolishness. If they don't want to support us, don't support them. But don't just sit back and refuse to use their software. Speak up and let the site owner KNOW that it's affecting them. Be civil, be curteous, be to the point (unlike this rant) and be sincere. It'll have more impact if you mention you can't view their site because they use software that isn't cross platform, rather than telling them it's because the software they use "sucks".
