I was at a local LUG meeting today and was very distressed that the above view 
should be expressed, and forcefully.  I found it distressing because that is 
quite some allegation - that we and Mate users and Cinnamon users etc., (all 
splinter groups) are actually damaging Linux, doing it harm.  

The fact that we are free to digress and disagree is why I like open source so 
much.  Take away that freedom and we might as well all use Windows.  It 
seemed to me a quite extraordinary allegation.  And as I say, I found it 
personally upsetting.

Since Linux without its freedom would not be Linux, nothing would seem to me 
more terminally harmful to Linux than to destroy that freedom.

I am a congenital maverick.  I claim the right to remain a maverick and to 
swim against the tide as much as I like!

Lisi