this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2026
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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.
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You misunderstand me.
If someone with a physical impairment says that using this word in software is harmful TO THEM, I will ABSOLUTELY believe them at face value and probably agree with the name change.
Can you find me such a person? THAT is what I was saying in my post. I don't see any evidence of actual offense happening. I see people trying to avoid offense, but no actual disabled people taking offense.
Got it. So basically you want to wait until after the harm has been done rather than proactively try to prevent the harm.
The name has been there for almost 20 years. If harm was going to happen, it would have already happened, would already be happening.
Consider drugs- if I invent a new drug, I have to run studies to ensure it's not harmful. But if the drug's been on the market for 20 years with many millions of doses consumed, I can look at the people who've taken it to see if it's harmful.
What you're saying is the drug's been on the market for 20 years, there's no reported harm in that time, but we should pull it off the market anyway. That makes no sense.
Can you find one single person anywhere at all who's said 'I'm disabled and the name GIMP is offensive'? Surely if the name hasn't caused offense in the last two decades, it's unlikely to cause offense in the next two decades?