Linux Bashing Now Considered a Hate Crime!
Washington DC - Bill Gates signed into law yesterday legislation that makes
Linux bashing an offense covered under the hate crime statute. Anyone
convicted of Linux bashing will now face Federal charges. The law is in
response to the recent beating of a Linux user at the University of Colorado
by a Windows 2000 Users Group.
Law enforcement officials have been given some guidelines to follow when
determining if a crime is covered by the statute. For example if a person
beats someone to death with a hammer they would just face murder charges in
a state court. However, if a person beats someone to death with a hammer
while yelling "You Linux using bastard," then they would be charged under
the hate crimes statute and face trial in a Federal court.
Many oppose the law, because they feel that it is unfairly targeted at one
particular group. "This makes it near impossible to do our job properly
without breaking the law," said Microsoft PR representative Bailey McClain,
"the Feds are taking away one of our most useful tools."
It is commonly believed that 10% of the population are Linux users. Linux
users often hide their use from friends and family members. Meeting other
users in Linux only bars or IRC channels. Openly Linux using people often
face extreme prejudice and discrimination from co-workers and IT departments
but say that this bigotry must be confronted. "I've never been beaten
because of my open sourceness, but I get a lot of 'Linux sucks' comments,"
said Jared Yttrium, "I'm glad the statute is there to protect me."
Others in the Linux community were confused by the ruling. "I went to Linux
Bash 2000 and it was one helluva party. The feds shouldn't be stopping
that," said Jacques Robert.
In related news Microsoft Windows users are now covered under the Americans
with Disabilities Act.
Edit: Added PIC
Washington DC - Bill Gates signed into law yesterday legislation that makes
Linux bashing an offense covered under the hate crime statute. Anyone
convicted of Linux bashing will now face Federal charges. The law is in
response to the recent beating of a Linux user at the University of Colorado
by a Windows 2000 Users Group.
Law enforcement officials have been given some guidelines to follow when
determining if a crime is covered by the statute. For example if a person
beats someone to death with a hammer they would just face murder charges in
a state court. However, if a person beats someone to death with a hammer
while yelling "You Linux using bastard," then they would be charged under
the hate crimes statute and face trial in a Federal court.
Many oppose the law, because they feel that it is unfairly targeted at one
particular group. "This makes it near impossible to do our job properly
without breaking the law," said Microsoft PR representative Bailey McClain,
"the Feds are taking away one of our most useful tools."
It is commonly believed that 10% of the population are Linux users. Linux
users often hide their use from friends and family members. Meeting other
users in Linux only bars or IRC channels. Openly Linux using people often
face extreme prejudice and discrimination from co-workers and IT departments
but say that this bigotry must be confronted. "I've never been beaten
because of my open sourceness, but I get a lot of 'Linux sucks' comments,"
said Jared Yttrium, "I'm glad the statute is there to protect me."
Others in the Linux community were confused by the ruling. "I went to Linux
Bash 2000 and it was one helluva party. The feds shouldn't be stopping
that," said Jacques Robert.
In related news Microsoft Windows users are now covered under the Americans
with Disabilities Act.
Edit: Added PIC
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