Sandals and Ponytails Behind Slow Linux Adoption

Eric Giguere writes "CNet is reporting that according to former Massachusetts CIO Peter Quinn 'the lax dress code of the open-source community is one of the reasons behind the software's slow uptake in commercial environments.' In particular, Quinn blames the 'sandal and ponytail set' for sluggish adoption of Linux by businesses and governments." From the article: "Quinn, who faced plenty of scrutiny over his support of the OpenDocument standards-based office document format, said proponents of open source in government faced formidable opposition from vested interests if they went public."

Oh for the love of...

[Chas]

I, for one, am familiar with the concept of "dress for success".

There's a dress code at my company. It's fairly easily followed, but it's still a dress code.

And there are considerations when going out to customer sites. Some, we could show up in a pair of shorts and a wife-beater for all they care. Others, if we're not in a suit and tie, they look at us funny.

Even so, this argument is an especially large patty of bullshit.

If you're reviewing software, review the damn software. Stop worrying what Joe Slack down the road happens to be wearing while using the self-same software.

Competent managers understand this. And they're usually dealing with (well dressed even) technical staff who do as well.

All the idiots who can't actually grasp the significance of the technology are covering themselves by going "OMG! IT'S WRITTEN BY A DIRTY, TREE-HUGGIN' HIPPIE! RUN AWAY!"

These individuals will, eventually, be replaced by more dynamic individuals who aren't so concerned with what some community programmer in Bumblefuck, KY is wearing.

Re:He sees a problem, I see a competitive advantag

[The Angry Mick]

pick stuff that is best, rather than looking to see if it wears Armani suits.

Let's not forget that all of those C-level types currently on trial were very well dressed . . .

De facto, not preference

[MythMoth]

Having read the damned article, I'd like to point out something that a lot of posters seem to be missing.

Nowhere that I've seen in that article does he say that ponytails and sandals signify anything about the skills, attitude, or professionalism of the people in question.

He is talking about peoples' perceptions, and the need to be politically savvy when selling OSS to those same people.

Re:Yeah...

[Reality Master 101]

Otherwise, I think you're totally wrong and lack real experience of diverse people.

I live in Southern California. Believe me, I have plenty of experience with "diverse" people.

I'm not implying that freaky people can't be productive citizens or whatever. Heck, one of my best friends growing up was 9-on-a-scale-of-10 bearded geek with all the stereotypical annoying personality flaws you can name. And when I worked with him once, I said "never again", even though he was a smart guy.

My point is that there's usually a deep-seated psychological reason people need to be latch on to the Goth subculture or the drug subculture or the geek subculture or whatever.

Re:Yeah...

[fbjon]

Long hair does require more maintenance to look ok, though, and some people just don't look good with long hair at all.

Re:Yeah...

[Cheetahfeathers]

I've found the opposite to be true about long hair. Short hair requires getting it cut very frequently. Long hair requires trimming the ends every few months or so, a procedure taking a few seconds. It takes almost no extra amount of time for me to wash or brush my long hair than it did when it was short. I tie it back in a pony tail and go.

I keep my hair long because short hair requires too much maintenance. :)