I know quite a few atheists who are Linux users. I can tell from the stats that several readers are. The X Blog does a good job of blending atheism, politics, and Linux. Lamar from Chariots of Iron and I chat about Linux every now and then and even talked about it on the podcast one time I was on. Even in the local atheist community there are enough of us that are Linux users that we often have side discussions about Linux.
On occasion people will try to find some link between atheism and Linux use, but even if there is any kind of correlation there (which is doubtful), that’s all it is. Atheists tend to be geeks and they reject dogmatic authority while most Linux users are geeks and they reject the dogmatic authority of Microsoft. A correlation wouldn’t be surprising, but I don’t know that it’s actually there.
Lamar and I use Arch Linux, most of the locals use Ubuntu, and one has a different distribution on each of his systems. Most of them have dual boot systems and primarily use Linux and just boot into Windows for gaming. Since I’m not a gamer I haven’t bothered with that since Skype‘s last major Linux client update (version 2.2), although I do have a Windows virtual machine that I use on very rare occasions.
One dual booter breaks the mold though. He uses Windows for his primary system and Linux for porn. That way he can go to the sites that will give you viruses and worms without any worries (I guess Linux is his porn condom). A few things about that puzzle me. Why is he going to sites like that when there are plenty of major free porn sites that aren’t security risks? No wait, I don’t want to know that… The other thing is that if he knows and has personally demonstrated how much safer of a system it is, then why doesn’t he use that for his primary OS?
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Well, I'm sure you already knew this, but security isn't the main reason people use Windows.
People use Windows because it is ubiquitous with what they see computers as, and Macs are so far separated from PCs that having something other than Windows seems like an unnecessary luxury, encouraged by 'Mac zealots'.
Since Linux hasn't gotten much advertising until Android (which is not something you do hardcore gaming on… typically), there's little public knowledge of an alternative to Windows aside from thinking there might be this 'geeky thing without a GUI called Lunix'. Yeah, I've heard people correct me saying it's Lunix.
I'd guess he likes the support Windows gets, even if much of it is only a mental structure, not actual improved support. Also, there's force of habit, video games, and the concept that you can do all you need with Linux, but why restrict yourself when you could do everything you could do with a computer if you have them both?
I encourage people to be OS-agnostic at the least. People who take on that position tend to become Linux users, and I think it's no surprise why.
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I wholeheartedly agree. Anyone picking an OS for security reasons would certainly not go with Windows. However, as I've said a few times before, the best OS is the one that works for you.