The Real Meaning of Christmas...

[treehead]

;like the author of this article, i by no mean to preach--far from it--but i thought it a nice call to action:

http://lxer.com/module/newswire/lf/view/48506/

;curious... do any of you donate your time for christmas or as an on-going thing?

;treehead

[Judland]

;curious... do any of you donate your time for christmas or as an on-going thing?

You mean other than the time spent on Linux related forums and IRCs helping out fellow Linux users?

[snarkout]

;curious... do any of you donate your time for christmas or as an on-going thing?

You mean other than the time spent on Linux related forums and IRCs helping out fellow Linux users?

Considering I'm practically useless on a windows box, it has to be linux or OS X for me.

[treehead]

;curious... do any of you donate your time for christmas or as an on-going thing?

You mean other than the time spent on Linux related forums and IRCs helping out fellow Linux users?

;yeah, i was thinking more along the lines of what the guy who wrote the article was talking about... doing some work for someone that they might otherwise pay for or have to contract.

;i think most of us try to help each other out online. we certainly like using computers, or we wouldn't be here on this forum. likewise, i think we choose the projects we like to do most of the time, but the guy got me thinking about how often we give our time away, you know? i think it's a great idea. certainly, i'd like to give back to the community... like free software developers do, for instance (although my contribution would less-than-likely be code as docs or graphics), but i also do a bit of design work for a local counseling center. i'd like to do more of that.

;i think we have a lot of talents that we take for granted because we're so hard on ourselves to learn more and do more that i think others are at a total loss for. not just the "aunt berthas" of the world either (non-tech saavy family members), but people or organizations in need. i just got a vim newsletter from bram moolenaar today in which he talks about his latest trip to uganda. he's doing some really amazing things there. i think mit's $100 laptop is another. but in addition to those more "glamorous" projects i also think that there are local (domestic) needs too.

;treehead

[Gomer_X]

;like the author of this article, i by no mean to preach--far from it--but i thought it a nice call to action:

;curious... do any of you donate your time for christmas or as an on-going thing?

Nice article, but it still basically says Christmas is about giving things to people. That's the way our society enjoys the holiday without admitting what it's really about, but it misses the point. I didn't come to preach either, but with a title like "The Real Meaning of Christmas," I don't feel it's out of line to make the point.

As far as giving time, I've got a friend who seems to have broken something important on his Linux box ever time I stop by. It's hard to get annoyed with him because he tries hard and has learned so much in so little time about building and maintaining systems. I enjoy helping him.

Last year I just sent an E-mail to my immediate family suggesting we just buy small gifts for the kids and not worry about getting anything for each other. To my surprise, it worked. I enjoy being with my family each year more than anything they could give me. If I could find a way do away with our society's pressure to buy things in order to feel good, I'd work on that.

[Judland]

Foamy the Squirrel says it all for me!

http://www.illwillpress.com/xmas.html

You may want your headphones on for this one, if you're at the office or something. And if religion is a touchy subject for you, than just avoid altogether.

[treehead]

Nice article, but it still basically says Christmas is about giving things to people. That's the way our society enjoys the holiday without admitting what it's really about, but it misses the point. I didn't come to preach either, but with a title like "The Real Meaning of Christmas," I don't feel it's out of line to make the point.

;so what is the real meaning of christmas then?

;i'm a christian, so I know it's about the birth of Christ, but again, i was trying to stir up some conversation, not anger. some people get real angry when you broach the topic. i don't think the squirrel has it all right, but i understand the frustration.

;treehead

[Judland]

;i'm a christian, so I know it's about the birth of Christ, but again, i was trying to stir up some conversation, not anger. some people get real angry when you broach the topic. i don't think the squirrel has it all right, but i understand the frustration.

I found it funny, more than anything.

Besides, I think Christmas should be all year (in the spirit of, to which I'm referring). Joy and good will towards man shouldn't be just one day a year, anyway.

[Patrick]

Besides, I think Christmas should be all year (in the spirit of, to which I'm referring). Joy and good will towards man shouldn't be just one day a year, anyway.

Agreed. You see the video footage of people knocking down old ladies so they can get a $200 laptop and you have to wonder what's going on in their minds. People are savages.

[Judland]

People are savages.

Well, some, I'll agree. But there's always hope.

[treehead]

Agreed. You see the video footage of people knocking down old ladies so they can get a $200 laptop and you have to wonder what's going on in their minds. People are savages.

;i just got a good chuckle over seeing this post coupled with pat's avatar of 20-or-so handguns.

;treehead

[Patrick]

;i just got a good chuckle over seeing this post coupled with pat's avatar of 20-or-so handguns. ;treehead

Rememeber guns don't kill people, people kill people!

[treehead]

Rememeber guns don't kill people, people kill people!

;no, no, no... kids who play videogames kill people... geez man, get it right!

;treehead