Hello,
Discussion point and request for edits (either through an existing approved editor, or via myself if I am granted access) Hopefully a constructive suggestion to improve documentation, and elsewhere in the Wiki it advises me to raise such things through this mailing list.
I recently noticed in Freenode/#centos somebody seeking help and being redirected to http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/OtherSpins as soon as they mentioned their issue was on a VPS. Curious, I read the page and have some suggestions about the wording.
Through this wiki page, the phrase "Genuine CentOS" is used to indicate a version of CentOS that has been modified by the VPS host.
I think this wording is misleading and would like to suggest is is changed through this document.
Reasoning: In the computing world, Microsoft and others widely use the phrase "Genuine" to indicate whether Windows, Office or other products are licenced legally. The inferrance from this is that these VPS providers are somehow providing an illegal copy of CentOS. This is obviously not the case. In fact, this is explained in the text:
"I was sent to this page because I was told that my version of CentOS isn't genuine CentOS. Will you please explain this?
We have noticed that a lot of people are offering something that they call CentOS. But this something is in reality only based on CentOS and it has been modified by the people making it available."
Suggestion 1: Change "Genuine" to "Modified" (contexed accordingly)
Suggestion 2: Rework the tone of this wiki article to be less disdainful. My personal view is that phrases like "We are not mind readers", "we cannot provide you with support" are not friendly and would put some people off from asking for help again. (A similar view to overly widespread use of irc bot triggers)
Suggestion 3: Make it clearer that some VPS hosts may provide unmodified CentOS. Whilst the phrase "This is usually the case" comes through, no evidence to support this assertion is given, so it is heresay. The document does contain a very clear guide to establishing whether your install is modified or not, so why not refer to it internally?
In summary: I see the need for this page and think it serves a useful purpose. However, the frustration of the author comes through too nakedly. It is too easy to read this page and consider yourself "told off".
Context, from freenode #centos
[17:25:38] <UnLokitoFeliz> Good afternoon I have the doubt how I can clear cache from the vps, CentOS version is 7
[17:25:55] <Sokel> Cache for?
[17:26:19] <Zathrus> @vps
[17:26:19] <centbot> You are not running CentOS. Please read http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/OtherSpins and please ask your provider for further assistance.
Regards
S
Discussion point and request for edits (either through an existing approved editor, or via myself if I am granted access) Hopefully a constructive suggestion to improve documentation, and elsewhere in the Wiki it advises me to raise such things through this mailing list.
I recently noticed in Freenode/#centos somebody seeking help and being redirected to http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/OtherSpins as soon as they mentioned their issue was on a VPS. Curious, I read the page and have some suggestions about the wording.
Through this wiki page, the phrase "Genuine CentOS" is used to indicate a version of CentOS that has been modified by the VPS host.
I think this wording is misleading and would like to suggest is is changed through this document.
Reasoning: In the computing world, Microsoft and others widely use the phrase "Genuine" to indicate whether Windows, Office or other products are licenced legally. The inferrance from this is that these VPS providers are somehow providing an illegal copy of CentOS. This is obviously not the case. In fact, this is explained in the text:
"I was sent to this page because I was told that my version of CentOS isn't genuine CentOS. Will you please explain this?
We have noticed that a lot of people are offering something that they call CentOS. But this something is in reality only based on CentOS and it has been modified by the people making it available."
Suggestion 1: Change "Genuine" to "Modified" (contexed accordingly)
Suggestion 2: Rework the tone of this wiki article to be less disdainful. My personal view is that phrases like "We are not mind readers", "we cannot provide you with support" are not friendly and would put some people off from asking for help again. (A similar view to overly widespread use of irc bot triggers)
Suggestion 3: Make it clearer that some VPS hosts may provide unmodified CentOS. Whilst the phrase "This is usually the case" comes through, no evidence to support this assertion is given, so it is heresay. The document does contain a very clear guide to establishing whether your install is modified or not, so why not refer to it internally?
In summary: I see the need for this page and think it serves a useful purpose. However, the frustration of the author comes through too nakedly. It is too easy to read this page and consider yourself "told off".
Context, from freenode #centos
[17:25:38] <UnLokitoFeliz> Good afternoon I have the doubt how I can clear cache from the vps, CentOS version is 7
[17:25:55] <Sokel> Cache for?
[17:26:19] <Zathrus> @vps
[17:26:19] <centbot> You are not running CentOS. Please read http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/OtherSpins and please ask your provider for further assistance.
Regards
S
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