Dear Open Source Developers,

You know, I go out of my way to support Open source projects. Even when I’m using Windows, I’m generally using an Open Source program to get done what I need to get done. But really, when you go about naming otherwise excellent programs Spaz or GIMP…well, it turns me off. It’s that whole language matters thing. And yes. It’s true. I do still use GIMP; but should I really have to cringe every time I open up a program to do something as simple as crop an image? And yes. I realize that GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program, but still; you couldn’t come up with something a little less…oh, I don’t know…totally friggin’ offensive to disabled people? Why try to be clever at the expense of other people’s lives? It’s so unnecessary.

So, I kindly ask that from here on out, all of you Open Source developers stop and think for a minute before you go about naming your programs names like Spaz or GIMP because the Open Source philosophy really isn’t attainable when you are using language that otherizes people.

I’m just saying.

Gibbons Versus Tigers

Watch the Gibbon pwn the Tiger!¹

1. If you get this joke, you are a nerd. Welcome to the club. [↩]