From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
Personally I'm somewhere between 2 and 3 - I'll engage in the distro sectarianism for the bit, sometimes on the side of one that isn't even what I actually use, but I hate being an annoying proselytiser of anything, I hate dealing with the broad tent politics of the FOSS world, and I'm happy to engage with the community positively but I hate being any of the nasty stereotypes.
Proud member of #3 gang here, although I don't really give a shit about distro wars. But if you're talking about a problem with Windows you can be pretty sure I'll say you could avoid that with Linux.
Being labeled "annoying" often means you're completely correct and the person you're talking to knows it but has some cognitive dissonance to work through. You see it with linux, socialism, veganism, etc. People don't get nearly as annoyed by opinions they sincerely disagree with as by opinions they can't find a good reason to disagree with (but want to anyway)
Yeah... I care a lot more about socialism than computer operating systems, and I know my leftism alone exhausts people's patience with me. Otherwise I probably would talk people's ears off about how there is a solution to their constant Windows frustrations.