You're Still Doing It Wrong

Well, that story I commented on this morning appears to have created a bit of an Internet shitstorm. It's been on every tech site I've bumped into today. Helios commented on it, it's been submitted to the Linux subReddit about a dozen times, and I've seen links to it on Tom's Hardware and The Register.

I imagine Channel 27 News had absolutely no idea what they were getting into when they posted the first article on Tuesday.

In the follow-up article, they describe how the woman:
"canceled her online courses at Madison Area Technical College because she couldn't get her Verizon internet to work or install Microsoft Word.

27 News helped her resolve those problems."

That's great. Seriously. I'm glad somebody there at Channel 27 knows how to get some fucking technical support lined up.

"However, the story didn't stop there."

Oh noes!

"Ubuntu is an operating system that contains Linux. It's free and part of what's called open source software. Ubuntu also, clearly, has an extremely passionate fan base."

Damn straight.

So the story spread like wildfire down the Internet tubes, and the "angry, rude, and hateful" comments started pouring in.

"Some Ubuntu users accused 27 News of 'unscrupulous reporting,' hitting a 'new low for local news,' and writing an 'atrocious article.'"

Looks like those evil, fanatical Ubuntu users struck a nerve. I really like the subtle shift towards the "us vs. them" language. Trust me, WKOW 27, don't follow Bill O'Rielly's lead of getting your panties in a bunch every time someone says you're not fair, objective or accurate in your reporting.

"The young woman also contacted 27 News to report she's being harassed on her Facebook account by Ubuntu users."

Facebook harassment is lame, even by trolling standards. That, coupled with all the omgsuperzombiejesuspoke applications is slowly making Facebook as lame as MySpace.

I feel that I should point out that Ubuntu users were not the ones that POSTED THIS WOMAN'S ENTIRE FUCKING NAME ON A PUBLIC FUCKING WEBSITE WHERE STUPID-ASS TROLLS COULD THEN USE IT TO HARASS HER. You want to know how to handle something like that with a bit of respect for the poor sap you're reporting on? May I direct you to Helios, who at least had the balls to admit he was wrong and apologize when he misunderstood some of the details of the story, and protected the identity of the woman he reported on.

A self-described small-time, opinionated blogger managed to muster up more journalistic integrity than you Channel Whatever dipshits. Good job.

To wrap up the article:
"'They're mad because it puts Ubuntu in a bad light,' said Adam Wiesenfarth, a technology consultant at UW-Madison."

No kidding?

"Wiesenfarth said Ubuntu has many good points and is considered stable, but he also stressed it's not for everyone.

'If you're not a computer tinkerer, and you're not willing to do research and digging, it may not be for you.'"

That's fair.

You know, there's a lot of fail here. It's like a Rube Goldberg machine of fail. When she explained that she needed Windows to do her work, her order should have been changed and the Dell rep shouldn't have pushed something on her that potentially wouldn't work for what she needed to do. The news team could have spent five minutes on Google to get some balance in their article, and the Ubuntu supporters (myself included) could have reacted with a bit less vitriol.

As for the unfortunate woman, all I will say is this: what if, instead of immediately whining to Channel Dipshit News, she had posted a rant about Ubuntu on Reddit? Something as simple as "I hate Ubuntu, my Verizon card won't work and I can't open Word documents, I'm just going to return this dumb laptop." would have Redditors falling over themselves to help her find a solution, between the volleys of the ensuing Microsoft vs Linux flamewar, of course.



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