Comment 7 for bug 855685

Revision history for this message
Tom (tom6) wrote :

Hi :)
As a native English speaker i think i can see what the intention was in the original statement. I think it was meant to imply that sometimes it is questionable who would enjoy using the product.

I do prefer the simple phrase "Ubuntu is for anyone. Whoever you are, and wherever you are."

<Long-winded explanation of the possible hidden depths of the original phrase ...>
Some companies assume that people DO want heavy, bloated, slow apps that have a tendency to revert to American English - apps that are so vulnerable to malware and other security issues that outside of people's homes everything has to be locked down so tightly that it can't be customised to make a more harmonious working environment (or more exciting, or dramatic or whatever directions different individuals like to aim for).

Market research often shows what people think they want rather than what they really want. It is difficult to find a fair sample of people that have experienced non-proprietary systems and even the people writing questionnaires and such like may inadvertently write "leading questions" and then ignore answers that fall outside of their own experience. They try to avoid it obviously, at least the good researchers try to avoid it. f the research is being paid for by a particular company the results may be interpreted to suit what the company wanted to hear. This is not always done deliberately. Even a good research company might be grateful to get paid and that gratitude may sway results a bit. It is difficult to tell people something they don't want to hear and it's unlikely they would really listen anyway.

Also we see from corporate environments, the fashion industry (even 'alternative' clothing companies), "top ten" type music industry, the movie industry, and so on, that often people prefer to be told what they like, what to wear, what songs are 'good'. In most corporate environments it is important for most workers to blend in or else they face ridicule and get ignored when it comes to getting promoted. Obviously they have to "stand out" just enough and in the right way but going too far scares colleagues and bosses.

All this means that there can be a vast difference between what a person really wants and what companies think that people want. "We all want the same thing", right?? (No, we don't, but would many people dare to say so?).

Perhaps companies ideas about people could be called "virtual people" but i have a feeling that we need to reserve that name for something quite different, perhaps "invented people" or "fake people" or something might be better? The phrase "Ubuntu is for anyone. Whoever you are, and wherever you are." neatly avoids us having to invent or rediscover a more appropriate word than "drones".
</Long-winded explanation of the possible hidden depths of the original phrase ...>

And no i am not fat. I have just had to buy a larger size of jeans temporarily until i regain my normal size ;)

Regards from
Tom :)