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That’s [UNIX-HATERS HANDBOOK] funny, but I honestly don’t know what to make of it. First, it’s hard to tell how serious they are. And if these guys are really so disgusted with Unix, I can’t imagine what they must think of Windows! Of course, that book was written back in 1994. I wonder what they think of Linux now.

7 With hackers (and I mean that in the true sense of the word -- much like gay is not homosexual), it's hard to separate the sarcasm from the reality. As JRandomFreeper knows, people like Eric Raymond ("esr") and the like have a very dry wit and a fine-tuned sense of irony. They'll be pulling your leg with a deadpan face.

I think the guys behind the book have a love-hate relationship with Unix. I also do sometimes, especially with the X Window System and its baroque authentication method (MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE anyone?). As I read the book in 1994 and on subsequent occasions, I get the impression that the authors really wanted Unix to succeed but were letdown by its flaws. It's almost as if they put it so high on a pedestal that it could never meet their lofty expectations. As Dennis said, "Usenet is a strange place" and as I say, "I could be wrong". :-)

LOL! No-one but old farts know what usenet is, or what service port 1189 means.

I still telnet localhost 25 sometimes to check the local mail server.

DR would be happy to know how much some folks have laughed and hoo-rah'ed.

/johnny

As I read the book in 1994 and on subsequent occasions, I get the impression that the authors really wanted Unix to succeed but were letdown by its flaws.

Let down? LOL! Unix is everywhere! From the tiniest to the hugest. Both iOS and Android are Unix-based, as is the largest pool of computing resources in the world, the GOOG.

We lost two giants in a week. One early. And one really early.