The Real Future of Linux and FOSS (Is Not Shiny Toys)

“There is a word that is to me as a pebble in a shoe, as
fingernails on a blackboard, and that is the word consumer.
Consumer is a perfectly good word that has become incurably
tainted. One dictionary definition is “a person who acquires goods
and services for his or her own personal needs”. Farther down on
the same Dictionary.com page it says “one that utilizes economic
goods; specifically : an individual who purchases goods for
personal use as distinguished from commercial use”. And so we have
Consumer Reports, consumer protection laws, Consumer’s Union, and
other organizations devoted to protecting consumer’s rights and
interests.

“There is another, older definition of consumer: “one who
squanders or wastes,” “one who uses up goods or articles”. That is
more in tune with the modern definition, which to me is
“Unquestioning passive receptacle of overpriced, low-quality,
low-value goods and services”. They call us consumers of
entertainment, of software, of hard goods, and of services. They’re
trying to monetize intellectual property, and retain control of our
stuff that we buy, and make us pay for the same thing every time we
touch it.

“I do not like this word consumer. I prefer customer. The
definition of customer is much more interesting than consumer: “1.
a person who purchases goods or services from another; buyer;
patron. 2. Informal. a person one has to deal with: a tough
customer; a cool customer.”

Complete
Story