Let's try an experiment. Let me do some blabbering, filling in some blanks with words, and then see if there's a subtext. Or maybe just a pattern.

Sample 1

I use a paper towel dispenser every day. It's not what we had when I was growing up, but it's what we have at my workplace and I've gotten used to it. Heck, I even prefer it sometimes. It makes sense to me.

Recently I found myself in a different place, but needing to get some paper towels. And lo, there was a paper towel dispenser. But it wasn't like the one I'd used before. It was [a sensor-activated paper towel dispenser, one that tries to automatically | a manually-operated paper towel dispenser, one where you have to turn a crank just enough to] dispense the right amount of paper towel. Of course, used to the more logical, other, kind of paper towel dispenser, using this thing felt like using some kind of alien technology that was both sick and wrong.

I felt this so strongly, in fact, that I felt that I needed to warn others about this horribly designed and built paper towel dispenser. I did, and was shocked to find that others actually preferred to have their paper towel dispensers work this way. "Are they insane?", I asked myself. "No, they just don't know better," I replied, and decided to go on a warpath, to show them reason and convince them of the error of their ways. But no, they didn't like that. They thought I was wrong.

It was like I'd entered some kind of bizarro world. I mean, what kind of mentally unhinged person would want a paper towel dispenser that worked so unlike the kind I used? I decided to spend more time trying to convince people of how a paper towel dispenser should work than actually getting work done. It's important, and my opinion counts more than others (or it should, because I'm right), and if they would just listen to me, the world would be a much better place.

But no, they don't listen. So I have to waste my time arguing with them. And all of the energy devoted toward having multiple paper towel dispensers is tearing the community apart. I can't stand it. Why can't we all just get along and settle this by admitting that I'm right?

Oh right, the subtext. I'm not talking about paper towel dispensers. I'm talking about the Linux Desktop.

Sample 2

I use a Linux Desktop every day. It's not what we had when I was growing up, but it's what we have at my workplace and I've gotten used to it. Heck, I even prefer it sometimes. It makes sense to me.

Recently I found myself in a different place, but needing to get some work done. And lo, there was a Linux Desktop. But it wasn't like the one I'd used before. It was [GNOME | KDE | J. Random Desktop ]. Of course, used to the more logical, other, kind of Linux Desktop, using this thing felt like using some kind of alien technology that was both sick and wrong.

I felt this so strongly, in fact, that I felt that I needed to warn others about this horribly designed and built Linux Desktop. I did, and was shocked to find that others actually preferred to have their Linux Desktop work this way. "Are they insane?", I asked myself. "No, they just don't know better," I replied, and decided to go on a warpath, to show them reason and convince them of the error of their ways. But no, they didn't like that. They thought I was wrong.

It was like I'd entered some kind of bizarro world. I mean, what kind of mentally unhinged person would want a Linux Desktop that worked so unlike the kind I used? I decided to spend more time trying to convince people of how a Linux Desktop should work than actually getting work done. It's important, and my opinion counts more than others (or it should, because I'm right), and if they would just listen to me, the world would be a much better place.

But no, they don't listen. So I have to waste my time arguing with them. And all of the energy devoted toward having multiple Linux Desktops is tearing the community apart. I can't stand it. Why can't we all just get along and settle this by admitting that I'm right?

Or maybe it's about X servers with accelerated OpenGL. Really, most competing technology discussions fit this mold. And it's boring as hell. Actually, I imagine the real Hell (if there is one) is quite interesting, if unpleasant, so it's boringer than hell. I mean really, does any of this matter in the long run? Does it pass the 5 year test (will I care in 5 years?). I think I'll take a nap now. Wake me up when something newsworthy happens.