But there are just as many hiccups to encounter.

We’re not talking about "hiccups; " we’re talking about deliberate attacks against you. Linux has bugs, but with Windows, the OS is designed to serve Microsoft’s interests at your expense. It’s a categorically different thing.

Your statement is a perfect example of the sort of bargaining (in the toxic relationship sense) I’m talking about. It’s the tech equivalent of saying “I fell down the stairs” when the real cause of your black eye was your abuser punching you in the face.

And the kind of superior, unhelpful attitude that a noticable part of the Linux communities show (whether that is just a vocal minority or actual major part is irrelevant to someone looking for help), especially towards new users who often have no idea about various Linux-isms

Note that absolutely nothing I’ve written here is about technical competency or “Linux-isms,” but instead about psychology and business ethics.

Windows is for people with no self-respect. Seeing them defend it is just sad in the same way as seeing a battered spouse defend their abuser.

there’s no way someone’s expending that much time and effort and not getting paid for it

…you say on Lemmy, of all places. 😜

Imperialism as a stage in capitalist development

Okay, but if “as a stage in capitalist development” is what you mean, that’s way more fucking specific than just “imperialism” in general and so you folks here can’t just say “imperialism” and expect people to treat you as anything other than clowns who don’t know what words mean.

but there was a communist revolution, and the ensuing government abolished ownership of Russian colonies, ending Russian imperialism.

So you’re really going to pretend that the Warsaw Pact wasn’t imperialism? Even though you claim NATO is? Sure, buddy.

The fall of the USSR did not come with new colonies, those were already freed.

Not for lack of trying. If you don’t think invading Georgia and Ukraine count as attempts at colonization, especially under the definitions you keep applying to the US, you’re just delusional.

the imperialist powers are overwhelmingly western

And Russia is one of them! There is essentially fuck-all difference between Russia under Putin and the US under Trump, in terms of political or economic ideology.

The collapse of the USSR was essentially an example of “if you can’t beat 'em, join 'em” (in terms of economic system, not geopolitical alliances). There is no anti-imperialist counterbalancing going on here; the US and Russia are just two rival bullies fighting over the same turf.

I understand what you think you’re going to accomplish by supporting Russia, but all you would actually accomplish is trading out one imperialist capitalist oppressor for another.

And I did respond to your edit, take a look.

Still too many excuses. The simple fact is that Russia is not entitled to decide how Ukraine conducts its own internal affairs, and so nothing you wrote was relevant at all.

No, we do not define imperialism as “the thing the US does.”

I literally quoted you: “imperialism is a global system headed by the US Empire.”

Imperialism was first analyzed as a stage in capitalist development when countries like the UK and Germany were greater imperialist powers, in the years leading up to World War I.

WTF are you talking about? Imperialism has existed longer than capitalism! Sure, the British Empire was imperialist, as was the German Empire. But so was France under Napoleon. So was Spain back in the 15th Century. So was motherfucking Rome, two millennia before capitalism was even invented.

And pointedly, so was Russia, going all the way back to the Tsars. See, for example, Russia’s 19th century imperialism (along with Britain; I’m perfectly willing to admit that) in the form of “the great game” fighting over central Asia.

The idea that only western capitalists are capable of being imperialist is just fucking ludicrous nonsense.

By the way, I realize that it was a quick edit and you may have missed it, but you didn’t respond to my challenge to actually write the words “Russia invaded Ukraine” instead of passively denying the opposite.

Nobody said Russia didn’t invade Ukraine.

Pointedly, nobody in the entire fucking thread has been willing to admit that it did, either. Can you? Can you actually say the words “Russia invaded Ukraine” instead of dancing around it in the negative?

We oppose imperialism, which is a global system headed by the US Empire

The idea that you define imperialism as ‘the thing the US does’ sure explains a lot!

Meanwhile, back in reality, the actual definition of imperialism depends on the actual actions being taken, not who is taking them. The US is imperialist. Russia is also imperialist. Everybody sucks here.

The text color wasn’t a choice; it was just a consequence of putting the preexisting QGIS logo over the preexisting meme background.

The meme maker should’ve layered a shadow or contrasting-color rectangle under it.

QGIS logo:

They’re trying, but their gun just went “click” instead of “bang.”

Okay, here’s the compromise: disband your company and we’ll put away the guillotines.

The RAM industry has been a cartel for decades.

https://www.justice.gov/archive/atr/public/press_releases/2005/212002.htm

I’m the one trying to stay on topic. You give me a fucking straight answer first, and then I’ll answer yours!

The “threats to national sovereignty” argument is complete and utter horseshit. The absolute undeniable fact is that Ukraine did not attack Russia until it was attacked first.

That nonsense is exactly like trying to argue that I had the right to shoot you because I thought you looked at me funny. It’s just categorically dishonest.

So that’s a “no,” then. Thanks for confirming your bad faith.

Are you capable of admitting that Russia invaded Ukraine, not the other way around?

Whataboutism.

The undeniable fact is that Russia invaded Ukraine, not the other way around. That makes Russia the aggressor and Ukraine the victim in that conflict.

The reason [Russia] receives critical support is because it’s opposing the US

From your link:

Critical support is supporting something while also being critical of its flaws. It is often used in the context of supporting bourgeois states that fight against imperialism or are under imperialist aggression.

The thing is, Russia is exactly the polar opposite of “supporting bourgois states that fight against imperialism” or being “under imperialist aggression.” Those statements describe states like Ukraine, while Russia is itself also an imperialist aggressor.

You can argue that the US is also bad in that regard, but you sure as Hell can’t argue that Russia is any better. Supporting Russia “critically” (which I’m also not buying, BTW: quite a lot of its support around her is distinctly uncritical) is doing nothing but advocating for trading one oppressing overlord for another.

We’re so clear about it that I don’t even understand how you could possibly think we support Russia because we think it’s still socialist?

Thinking that maybe you were still somehow confused about Russia being communist was being charitable – giving you the benefit of the doubt. If you’re saying that y’all knowingly support fascists, that just makes you irredeemably terrible people.

The USSR collapsed three and a half decades ago and you MLers are still trying to conflate fascist Russia with communism.

Meanwhile, back in reality, blaming Russia has fuck-all to do with communism, let alone being paranoid about it.

Let’s be clear about this: Aaron absolutely had authorized access.

Because Swartz was merely a natural person, while Meta is an almighty corporation. Everybody knows only corporations deserve rights, duh!

Do it. Not joking.