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Comments on: 'Sandal and ponytail set' cramping Linux adoption?

Yes, says former Massachusetts CIO Peter Quinn. To be taken seriously, open-source community needs to dress the part.

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IBM style carbon-copies
by mhearne March 29, 2006 5:26 PM PST
I grew up in a world of IBM style carbon-copies. In fact, I was one of the first kids in my school to be sent home for having my hair over my ears (1966). Do we *really* want to go back to *that* attitude?

Besides, in this day and age, a very large number of employees can work from their homes or private offices anyway, so what's the point, really?

A lot of us would really prefer not to have to look like good party members.

Michael Hearne
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IBM style carbon-copies
by mhearne March 29, 2006 5:26 PM PST
I grew up in a world of IBM style carbon-copies. In fact, I was one of the first kids in my school to be sent home for having my hair over my ears (1966). Do we *really* want to go back to *that* attitude?

Besides, in this day and age, a very large number of employees can work from their homes or private offices anyway, so what's the point, really?

A lot of us would really prefer not to have to look like good party members.

Michael Hearne
Reply to this comment
Suits
by vampares March 29, 2006 9:48 PM PST
I think if Redmond had an suit and tie dresscode that I would still use Microsoft Software.
Reply to this comment
Suits
by vampares March 29, 2006 9:48 PM PST
I think if Redmond had an suit and tie dresscode that I would still use Microsoft Software.
Reply to this comment
Here's the test
by rlaw68 March 29, 2006 10:20 PM PST
OK guys, look...

1) Beautiful woman, clean shiny hair, clothes that fit well, great smile.

2) Overweight woman, matted hair, rumpled clothes, scowling.

Maybe #2 has the winning personality you've all been waiting for, but which one are you attracted to and which one is more likely to get your attention / conversation?

Just saying that all right/wrong, suits/devs aside, appearances DO matter in getting what you want.

If you're brilliant enough to be a cutting edge developer and Linux guru but NOT get that, then you're not as brilliant as you think...or else your arrogance just gets in the way of your brilliance.

The whole freakin' point of the article is that whether you like it or not, the suits both judge you by how you dress AND are the ones who get to ultimately make the decisions that affect you.

Want to take the f*** 'em all attitude? Go for it, just don't complain when they do indeed give you back exactly the respect you showed them.

Show up for your court appearance in a dirty tank top, shorts, and flip flops if that's what's comfortable for you and you'll have lots of time to ponder how unfair the system is from the inside.

It has never been fair and will never be fair. Business isn't about fair. Politics aren't about fair. Attraction, rejection, hiring, promotion, inclusion, exclusion...the list goes on and on...aren't about fair.

Righteousness is cold comfort, but great fodder for discussion groups. Too bad angry posts won't change the world.
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Yup
by Sboston March 30, 2006 7:02 AM PST
Excellent post. Sums it up pretty well.
Here's the test
by rlaw68 March 29, 2006 10:20 PM PST
OK guys, look...

1) Beautiful woman, clean shiny hair, clothes that fit well, great smile.

2) Overweight woman, matted hair, rumpled clothes, scowling.

Maybe #2 has the winning personality you've all been waiting for, but which one are you attracted to and which one is more likely to get your attention / conversation?

Just saying that all right/wrong, suits/devs aside, appearances DO matter in getting what you want.

If you're brilliant enough to be a cutting edge developer and Linux guru but NOT get that, then you're not as brilliant as you think...or else your arrogance just gets in the way of your brilliance.

The whole freakin' point of the article is that whether you like it or not, the suits both judge you by how you dress AND are the ones who get to ultimately make the decisions that affect you.

Want to take the f*** 'em all attitude? Go for it, just don't complain when they do indeed give you back exactly the respect you showed them.

Show up for your court appearance in a dirty tank top, shorts, and flip flops if that's what's comfortable for you and you'll have lots of time to ponder how unfair the system is from the inside.

It has never been fair and will never be fair. Business isn't about fair. Politics aren't about fair. Attraction, rejection, hiring, promotion, inclusion, exclusion...the list goes on and on...aren't about fair.

Righteousness is cold comfort, but great fodder for discussion groups. Too bad angry posts won't change the world.
Reply to this comment
Yup
by Sboston March 30, 2006 7:02 AM PST
Excellent post. Sums it up pretty well.
The obvious answer
by JFDMit March 29, 2006 11:37 PM PST
In most of the software companies I've worked with, the developers dress however they like. The customer facing sales people, however, generally wear suits. That way, the creative types can chill out while the 'go getters' can power dress to their hearts' content.

Actually, there's an even better solution staring us all in the face. It satisfies the corporate need for formality and the open source desire to be different. Don't wear suits, wear tuxedos.
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Good god!
by Sboston March 30, 2006 7:04 AM PST
LOL!
"Don't wear suits, wear tuxedos."
Heaven help us! :)
The obvious answer
by JFDMit March 29, 2006 11:37 PM PST
In most of the software companies I've worked with, the developers dress however they like. The customer facing sales people, however, generally wear suits. That way, the creative types can chill out while the 'go getters' can power dress to their hearts' content.

Actually, there's an even better solution staring us all in the face. It satisfies the corporate need for formality and the open source desire to be different. Don't wear suits, wear tuxedos.
Reply to this comment
Good god!
by Sboston March 30, 2006 7:04 AM PST
LOL!
"Don't wear suits, wear tuxedos."
Heaven help us! :)
It's not the software
by ThePenguin March 30, 2006 8:56 AM PST
Open Source software can be difficult at times, but once past that, you usually find software that is every bit as good and usable as the best shiniest shrink wrapped applications from these billion dollar behemoths.

I would submit that it isnt't the software that is buggy, or just doesn't work, it is in fact a short between the seat and the keyboard.

Open Source software is buggy, as opposed to what Microsoft? Oracle? McAfee?

Open Source software takes more skill than merely putting in a CD and clicking setup.

I would put JBoss against WebSphere, WebLogic or any other application server you wish.

I would put Postgres against anything that Larry at Oracle has ever turned out.

Not to mention Apache, NMap, Nessus, Postfix, Snort which are all market leaders, and in most cases extremely stable and scalable.

I would hold back Open Office out of the competent list, though, it's garbage.

Linux / UNIX isn't for everyone, it does not have training wheels.

As far as the "Sandal and Pony tail set" They are screwing up an awful lot of things. I wish these "Hippy Wannabes" would realize there is no romance in being a hippy. They didn't bathe, they caused a social backlash and ruined alot of fun things for the rest of us. The old "it's my brain not my body" mantra from the old school pre-professional sysadmins. Brush that half eaten egg mcmuffin out of your scruffy beard and off that beat up star trek shirt, and act professional.

Would you take financial advise from someone who wears cutoffs and sandals at your brokerage? In order to sell to business you have to be professional and join the cult of the suit.

These observations taken over 20+ years in Unix SysAdmin field.
Reply to this comment
It's not the software
by ThePenguin March 30, 2006 8:56 AM PST
Open Source software can be difficult at times, but once past that, you usually find software that is every bit as good and usable as the best shiniest shrink wrapped applications from these billion dollar behemoths.

I would submit that it isnt't the software that is buggy, or just doesn't work, it is in fact a short between the seat and the keyboard.

Open Source software is buggy, as opposed to what Microsoft? Oracle? McAfee?

Open Source software takes more skill than merely putting in a CD and clicking setup.

I would put JBoss against WebSphere, WebLogic or any other application server you wish.

I would put Postgres against anything that Larry at Oracle has ever turned out.

Not to mention Apache, NMap, Nessus, Postfix, Snort which are all market leaders, and in most cases extremely stable and scalable.

I would hold back Open Office out of the competent list, though, it's garbage.

Linux / UNIX isn't for everyone, it does not have training wheels.

As far as the "Sandal and Pony tail set" They are screwing up an awful lot of things. I wish these "Hippy Wannabes" would realize there is no romance in being a hippy. They didn't bathe, they caused a social backlash and ruined alot of fun things for the rest of us. The old "it's my brain not my body" mantra from the old school pre-professional sysadmins. Brush that half eaten egg mcmuffin out of your scruffy beard and off that beat up star trek shirt, and act professional.

Would you take financial advise from someone who wears cutoffs and sandals at your brokerage? In order to sell to business you have to be professional and join the cult of the suit.

These observations taken over 20+ years in Unix SysAdmin field.
Reply to this comment
Out-dated mind-set and attitude
by KinetiK_SK8R March 30, 2006 9:47 AM PST
With all due repect Mr. Quinn, it is the tireless efforts of the "sandal and pony-tail" set that has made Linux a force to be reckoned with. When will the business world learn a very old, very simple lesson: Never judge a book by it's cover. I imagine that Mr. Quinn is also of the opinion that unless you have a BS/MS in Computer Science that you can't be a "real" software developer. Which would you prefer, Mr. Quinn? A well-dressed, well-groomed, Ivy League graduate who isn't capable of designing, debugging, and maintaining a real-world software application, or an inovative, creative coder who is passionate about what he(she) does, is capable of giving you what you want when you want it, and doesn't feel the need to conform to the way the world thinks they should appear and behave. How a person dresses has no effect whatsoever on their ability to be creative and develop code. For my own part, there are times when I like to wear a tie, and there are times when I just want to wear a t-shirt, baggy pants and sneakers. The quote about "huge education process" sounds more like indoctrination to me. I hate to be the one to break it to you, Mr. Quinn, but the business world in general needs to realize that a person is greater than the sum of the clothes they wear.
Reply to this comment
Out-dated mind-set and attitude
by KinetiK_SK8R March 30, 2006 9:47 AM PST
With all due repect Mr. Quinn, it is the tireless efforts of the "sandal and pony-tail" set that has made Linux a force to be reckoned with. When will the business world learn a very old, very simple lesson: Never judge a book by it's cover. I imagine that Mr. Quinn is also of the opinion that unless you have a BS/MS in Computer Science that you can't be a "real" software developer. Which would you prefer, Mr. Quinn? A well-dressed, well-groomed, Ivy League graduate who isn't capable of designing, debugging, and maintaining a real-world software application, or an inovative, creative coder who is passionate about what he(she) does, is capable of giving you what you want when you want it, and doesn't feel the need to conform to the way the world thinks they should appear and behave. How a person dresses has no effect whatsoever on their ability to be creative and develop code. For my own part, there are times when I like to wear a tie, and there are times when I just want to wear a t-shirt, baggy pants and sneakers. The quote about "huge education process" sounds more like indoctrination to me. I hate to be the one to break it to you, Mr. Quinn, but the business world in general needs to realize that a person is greater than the sum of the clothes they wear.
Reply to this comment
This is life.
by System Tyrant March 30, 2006 11:35 AM PST
What I don't think most people want to admit or understand is that everybody judges everybody. People in suites and ties are going to be judgemental of those in Sandals and Ponytails.

People say appearance shouldn't matter, but why shouldn't it. People are always going to gravitate toward those that fit their ideas of how people should look and act. Those in sandals and ponytails do the same thing.

The fact is that those men making the decisions are going to factor in how the company or the people who work for the company look when they can.

It doesn't really matter I suppose. People are going believe what they want. Until something happens to make them think differently they aren't going to. It's always hard to see someone elses side when all you know is your own.
Reply to this comment
This is life.
by System Tyrant March 30, 2006 11:35 AM PST
What I don't think most people want to admit or understand is that everybody judges everybody. People in suites and ties are going to be judgemental of those in Sandals and Ponytails.

People say appearance shouldn't matter, but why shouldn't it. People are always going to gravitate toward those that fit their ideas of how people should look and act. Those in sandals and ponytails do the same thing.

The fact is that those men making the decisions are going to factor in how the company or the people who work for the company look when they can.

It doesn't really matter I suppose. People are going believe what they want. Until something happens to make them think differently they aren't going to. It's always hard to see someone elses side when all you know is your own.
Reply to this comment
Why should Windoze users change?
by theoldman59 March 30, 2006 12:06 PM PST
Right now, Windoze covers virtually ALL business needs with few or no exceptions. Open Source has gaps.

Long ago, when an 8088 PC with two floppy drives cost well over $5,000, one application made them worthwhile. The Spreadsheet. VisiCalc and Lotus 123 were the Killer applications that made the cash outlay for the Finance and Accounting People worthwhile.

Microsoft drove Lotus out of the business with the Graphic Interface. People thought the look and feel of Excel was better than Lotus. WordPerfect was the king of Word Processors and Word pushed WordPerfect out with a ?better? interface.

We now have two full generations of office employees trained in Microsoft products.

Ask yourself, ?What reason do they have to go through the effort to convert? ? What killer app does Open Source have that either Windoze doesn't have, or is so much better that people will want to change?

Right now, NONE! There is NO perceived reason to change.

For business to adopt Open Source, the OS community must provide reasons. Free software and whining about how bad Windoze is just isn?t enough for a business owner to put his / her hard earned cash at risk and pay for the conversion and training costs.

Just because most people on this forum are technoids that can adapt in a matter of seconds to any OS and application doesn?t mean we are normal, as we are not. Most people want stability and if you are going to upset their world, there better be a darned good reason.

So far, Open Source hasn?t provided enough of a reason. Cheap isn?t enough. Better isn?t enough.

Calling Business people brain dead isn?t helping either.
Reply to this comment
Why should Windoze users change?
by theoldman59 March 30, 2006 12:06 PM PST
Right now, Windoze covers virtually ALL business needs with few or no exceptions. Open Source has gaps.

Long ago, when an 8088 PC with two floppy drives cost well over $5,000, one application made them worthwhile. The Spreadsheet. VisiCalc and Lotus 123 were the Killer applications that made the cash outlay for the Finance and Accounting People worthwhile.

Microsoft drove Lotus out of the business with the Graphic Interface. People thought the look and feel of Excel was better than Lotus. WordPerfect was the king of Word Processors and Word pushed WordPerfect out with a ?better? interface.

We now have two full generations of office employees trained in Microsoft products.

Ask yourself, ?What reason do they have to go through the effort to convert? ? What killer app does Open Source have that either Windoze doesn't have, or is so much better that people will want to change?

Right now, NONE! There is NO perceived reason to change.

For business to adopt Open Source, the OS community must provide reasons. Free software and whining about how bad Windoze is just isn?t enough for a business owner to put his / her hard earned cash at risk and pay for the conversion and training costs.

Just because most people on this forum are technoids that can adapt in a matter of seconds to any OS and application doesn?t mean we are normal, as we are not. Most people want stability and if you are going to upset their world, there better be a darned good reason.

So far, Open Source hasn?t provided enough of a reason. Cheap isn?t enough. Better isn?t enough.

Calling Business people brain dead isn?t helping either.
Reply to this comment
The penguin is clean, so why can't you be?
by katamari March 30, 2006 1:45 PM PST
Tip #1: Shave your face. UNIX beards == WRONG.
Tip #2: Just say no to borderline mullets.
Tip #3: If you must wear Birchenstocks, wear them with socks. No one -- I repeat, NO ONE -- wants to see your grimy, nasty feet.
Tip #4: Be concerned about your health and well-being. Enjoy beer, but enjoy biking 15 miles afterwards.
Tip #5: Wash your clothes. No, really: it's for your own good.
Tip #6: This isn't physical, but it manifests itself that way: rid yourself of the BOFH attitude. It's passe. If you want to be hip, teach people cool stuff and stop saying "RTFM" or "man -k".

Also, for all the flamebaiters: I've been involved with Linux since 0.99pl45 (I worked on the CSLIP code -- I doubt anyone uses THAT any more ;) ), and involved with the BSDs since 1998. Basically, I've been heavily involved in open-source "everything" for about 13 years. I've been clean-shaven and sported excellent hygeine since my early teens: but good luck getting me to wear a suit to work (interviews excluded), or sandals (Magnums, thanks).

Do I want a medal? A cookie perhaps? Nope. I'm just using myself as an example as someone WITHIN the open-source community who's ashamed at the fact that most open-source developers I'd rather not visit the abodes of. Then again, I also wouldn't visit the abodes of some schmoozy sales rep. who owns a glass mansion... or a solutions director who lives in some slum and has a living room filled with a thousand beer cans.

Examples of heavy hitters in the open-source realm who seem to understand the important of hygeine: Linus Torvalds, Eric Raymond, Theo de Raadt, Dean Gaudet (Apache Foundation, if he's still a member), and most of the MySQL and PHP developers.

It doesn't matter to me if you're a kernel programmer or a UI designer -- personal hygeine matters. So get rid of the UNIX beard, stop visually imitating the GNU gnu, but above all: have some respect for yourself.

You might be surprised how you feel afterwards -- maybe even a bit... younger.
Reply to this comment
But...
by JFDMit March 30, 2006 2:19 PM PST
...can I still watch Star Trek? I promise I'll stop dressing like a Klingon, but I really need my fix of TNG.
View reply
The penguin is clean, so why can't you be?
by katamari March 30, 2006 1:45 PM PST
Tip #1: Shave your face. UNIX beards == WRONG.
Tip #2: Just say no to borderline mullets.
Tip #3: If you must wear Birchenstocks, wear them with socks. No one -- I repeat, NO ONE -- wants to see your grimy, nasty feet.
Tip #4: Be concerned about your health and well-being. Enjoy beer, but enjoy biking 15 miles afterwards.
Tip #5: Wash your clothes. No, really: it's for your own good.
Tip #6: This isn't physical, but it manifests itself that way: rid yourself of the BOFH attitude. It's passe. If you want to be hip, teach people cool stuff and stop saying "RTFM" or "man -k".

Also, for all the flamebaiters: I've been involved with Linux since 0.99pl45 (I worked on the CSLIP code -- I doubt anyone uses THAT any more ;) ), and involved with the BSDs since 1998. Basically, I've been heavily involved in open-source "everything" for about 13 years. I've been clean-shaven and sported excellent hygeine since my early teens: but good luck getting me to wear a suit to work (interviews excluded), or sandals (Magnums, thanks).

Do I want a medal? A cookie perhaps? Nope. I'm just using myself as an example as someone WITHIN the open-source community who's ashamed at the fact that most open-source developers I'd rather not visit the abodes of. Then again, I also wouldn't visit the abodes of some schmoozy sales rep. who owns a glass mansion... or a solutions director who lives in some slum and has a living room filled with a thousand beer cans.

Examples of heavy hitters in the open-source realm who seem to understand the important of hygeine: Linus Torvalds, Eric Raymond, Theo de Raadt, Dean Gaudet (Apache Foundation, if he's still a member), and most of the MySQL and PHP developers.

It doesn't matter to me if you're a kernel programmer or a UI designer -- personal hygeine matters. So get rid of the UNIX beard, stop visually imitating the GNU gnu, but above all: have some respect for yourself.

You might be surprised how you feel afterwards -- maybe even a bit... younger.
Reply to this comment
But...
by JFDMit March 30, 2006 2:19 PM PST
...can I still watch Star Trek? I promise I'll stop dressing like a Klingon, but I really need my fix of TNG.
View reply
I'll grow a 3rd teat.....
by Jim Hubbard March 30, 2006 5:46 PM PST
before these Linux shops evere "get it".

It's not the clothes Einstein.....it's the product's model for taking over the desktop.

Geez! Open source would be a great thing if the guys in charge of such products would get their heads out of their output ports and look at just what made Microsoft the HUGE success it is today!

There is no shame in adopting a business model that works.....but, there is shame (and the obvious failure) that goes with ignoring it.

If a Linux distro would listen to (and implement) just 3 basic concepts, they could take begin the real takeover of the desktop in as little as 2 years.

But, as much as I wish they would, they won't. They won't even listen.

It's suprising that a group of people that know so damned much that they don't even entertain ideas different from thiers can be such collosal failures at thier stated goal of desktop dominance.

At this point, Linux and Apple are the consumers' worst enemies. They exist solely as an excuse for Microsoft to get out of being broken up (OS from apps) as a monopoly.

They certainly aren't viable as a desktop alternative.

TO ANY DISTRO HEADS THAT MAY BE READING THIS THREAD : Go ahead (if you got the penguin pits for it) and contact me - HubbardSoftware.net. I'll be glad to show you what you are missing and why (until you get what you are missing) you'll always be a footnote in desktop history.
Reply to this comment
Apple and Linux. . .
by J.G. March 30, 2006 6:44 PM PST
are not twins separated at birth. I don't believe the criticisms
being directed at open source fellows (there are hardly any women)
apply to Apple. The reasons why it lost market share and is
having a hard time getting it back are unique to Apple itself.
View reply
I'll grow a 3rd teat.....
by Jim Hubbard March 30, 2006 5:46 PM PST
before these Linux shops evere "get it".

It's not the clothes Einstein.....it's the product's model for taking over the desktop.

Geez! Open source would be a great thing if the guys in charge of such products would get their heads out of their output ports and look at just what made Microsoft the HUGE success it is today!

There is no shame in adopting a business model that works.....but, there is shame (and the obvious failure) that goes with ignoring it.

If a Linux distro would listen to (and implement) just 3 basic concepts, they could take begin the real takeover of the desktop in as little as 2 years.

But, as much as I wish they would, they won't. They won't even listen.

It's suprising that a group of people that know so damned much that they don't even entertain ideas different from thiers can be such collosal failures at thier stated goal of desktop dominance.

At this point, Linux and Apple are the consumers' worst enemies. They exist solely as an excuse for Microsoft to get out of being broken up (OS from apps) as a monopoly.

They certainly aren't viable as a desktop alternative.

TO ANY DISTRO HEADS THAT MAY BE READING THIS THREAD : Go ahead (if you got the penguin pits for it) and contact me - HubbardSoftware.net. I'll be glad to show you what you are missing and why (until you get what you are missing) you'll always be a footnote in desktop history.
Reply to this comment
Apple and Linux. . .
by J.G. March 30, 2006 6:44 PM PST
are not twins separated at birth. I don't believe the criticisms
being directed at open source fellows (there are hardly any women)
apply to Apple. The reasons why it lost market share and is
having a hard time getting it back are unique to Apple itself.
View reply
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