* Posts by Lord Elpuss

2779 publicly visible posts • joined 17 Aug 2009

British govt agents step in as Harrods becomes third mega retailer under cyberattack

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: We can't continue to regard these simply as "IT Problems"

Eye for an eye. Reap what you sow. Get what you give. Etc etc. No apologies.

I notice you didn't reply to JulieM yourself saying her comment was out of order. When you've done that, you might have some credence in telling me what's a 'problem' and what's not. Until then, behold the fucks I don't give.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: We can't continue to regard these simply as "IT Problems"

Exactly. And making it about men is misandrist and sexist. Write it the other way round and see how it sounds:

"And women who are in the habit of deliberately cutting off the supply of oxygen to their brain with their trowelled-on makeup and heels they can't walk on seem to be fundamentally incapable of understanding...

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: We can't continue to regard these simply as "IT Problems"

"The engineers who designed a product in the first place almost certainly already tried to avoid unnecessary expense wherever possible, by sheer force of habit on account of what they get paid."

No. That's the way you'd like to imagine engineers think.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: We can't continue to regard these simply as "IT Problems"

A few months ago I had the pleasure of seeing a lecture by Baroness Manningham-Fuller, former head of MI5, which ended with a Q&A. There was a ton of stuff she wouldn't be drawn on discussing, but one of the questions from the audience was "What's your view on media conspiracy theories; when something goes wrong or breaks, it inevitably get called out as the work of "some foreign actor"?

Her answer was "Pass. But there are many reasons for calling something a 'conspiracy theory'. Oftentimes it is, but occasionally it's a convenient label. For example because we don't want to rock a geopolitical boat by discussing it or giving it credence."

I found that quite telling.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: M&S Store shopping - no stock at the best of times

That's generally the one good thing about vegans existing; their fucknuttery has ended up making vegetarianism being seen as normal.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: M&S Store shopping - no stock at the best of times

"I've noticed the quality of M&S sandwiches - which until recently used to be excellent - has recently dived (specifically for vegan options). Reduced selection, fewer of them. I've given up and moved to Sainsburys."

Read it. Understood it. Nothing else to it.

That said, I've taken down my second post because it was unnecessarily mean. I still think vegans should find another planet to live on though.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: We can't continue to regard these simply as "IT Problems"

"And men who are in the habit of deliberately cutting off the supply of oxygen to their brain with a stupid strip of polyester tied round their necks"

Nice bit of misandry there. Sure you're not just a bit bitter because the pretty salesgirl gets more attention than you?

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: We can't continue to regard these simply as "IT Problems"

And how do you think they figure out whether they can make them cheaper, and how much richer they could be? Exactly.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: M&S Store shopping - no stock at the best of times

"(specifically for vegan options). Reduced selection, fewer of them."

Don't be (or buy) vegan then. It's pointless, monstrously difficult to cater for and bad for the environment.

Q: How do you know if there's a vegan in the room? A: Don't worry; they'll tell you.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: We can't continue to regard these simply as "IT Problems"

Senior management possibly. There are plenty of low-level managers who've been caught up in mass layoffs over the past couple of years; in fact they're arguably one of the hardest hit in terms of percentage reductions because that's where big cost savings can be made. Salaries are higher than the rank and file, they're often located in higher cost countries, and the managers themselves often struggle to articulate what exactly would come crashing to a halt if they weren't there. Frontline management is a brutal place to be.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: We can't continue to regard these simply as "IT Problems"

"The very instant you talk about statistics, ie the probability of ...., their eyes glaze over and you have lost them! Sorry, you aren't wrong but it is simply them way they think."

What an odd statement. It's literally the way beancounters think - statistics probabilities and risks. That's what they do. They analyse, interpret, draw conclusions and make budgetary decisions based on these conclusions.

Chris Krebs loses Global Entry membership amid Trump feud

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: Separation of powers

"they say whats he wants to happen but need the departments to act on the EO"

Not really.

The President can use EOs under Article 2 of the Constitution to enforce the law or get things done through the Executive Branch, who are required to act on the EO as long as it's supported by actual or implied congressional law.

Basically meaning that if the EO is - or can be interpreted to be - within the law, the Executive Branch and Federal Government are required to act on it.

Booby-trapped Alpine Quest Android app geolocates Russian soldiers

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Impressive and relevant, but I'd still prefer to not see this documented here in such detail. It's doing God's work - keep it as quiet as possible.

UK's attempt to keep details of Apple 'backdoor' case secret… denied

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: Technical Capability Notice (TCN)

Oh you sweet summer child.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: Technical Capability Notice (TCN)

How's that now?

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: Technical Capability Notice (TCN)

"Noted there has been no bill of attainder passed since 1820 as they have fallen out of favour. Attainder remained a legal consequence of convictions in courts of law, but this ceased to be a part of punishment in 1870.

Do at least a Google Search before posting."

Nobody asked or cared.

Photoshop FOSS alternative GIMP wakes up from 7-year coma with version 3.0

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

As I said; you're done. Bye now.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

No I think you're done now. Thanks for playing though.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Thank you. Despite using 315 words where two would have been sufficient, I'll extract from your essay that we agree:

1. yes, the term GIMP could be defined as a BDSM reference, and;

2. yes, the software was named after a BDSM fetish character.

With this in mind, let me refer you back to the reason why I won't install it on my laptop, stated here:

"I use my laptop for business purposes, and I regularly connect and share my screen with senior, older, business leaders who do not work in the tech world and wouldn't know Linux from a lightbulb. You might know them as boomers or GenX.

If I had a program called Gimp on my laptop and these people didn't know what it was (which most won't), then I would expect some strong opinions to be expressed. "Keep your dirty little porn habits on your private laptop, they don't belong in a work meeting", and so on, Worst case, I could lose business because they keep their opinions to themselves, but make a private decision to not move forward because they think it's weird. Names matter."

Hence why I won't install it on my laptop. Because potential clients of mine might see it, interpret it (correctly) as being a term with BDSM connotations, and taking their business elsewhere.

Glad we could agree.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

A lot of words, still no answers to two very simple questions.

I won't engage with you further until you've answered them.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

I usually enjoy debating with trolls because it's good practice and it sharpens my mental acuity, however what's becoming clear here is that while you most certainly are a troll, you are unfortunately not a good one.

Answer my questions please, or I'll be forced to conclude you have no counter argument and we're done.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Answer my questions please. Stop disseminating.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Let’s do this step by step for the hard of thinking.

First question. Is it, or is it not, a FACT that one of the meanings of the word Gimp is a BDSM fetish reference?

Second question. Is it, or is it not, a FACT that the author of the software program The GIMP publicly stated that the inspiration for the name of the program came from the BDSM fetish character in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction?

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

"You seem to be actively seeking a way to be offended by conflating the BDSM gimp and the "ableist" gimp, which is very childish."

It doesn't interest me which one of these meanings is the 'more' offensive; the only thing I care about is that at least one of the meanings of the word can be considered offensive. And for this reason, I won't install it on my work laptop. For the simple reason that I have a lot of older, technophobic clients who could see it as unprofessional, and consequently choose to take their business elsewhere. That's it. That is the entire issue. There is nothing else.

I've stated this throughout, however for the hard of thinking here is one example.

"I use my laptop for business purposes, and I regularly connect and share my screen with senior, older, business leaders who do not work in the tech world and wouldn't know Linux from a lightbulb. You might know them as boomers or GenX.

If I had a program called Gimp on my laptop and these people didn't know what it was (which most won't), then I would expect some strong opinions to be expressed. "Keep your dirty little porn habits on your private laptop, they don't belong in a work meeting", and so on, Worst case, I could lose business because they keep their opinions to themselves, but make a private decision to not move forward because they think it's weird."

You can choose to continue to manufacture scenarios in your head where you believe I am saying 'x' or conflating 'y'; I can't control your delusions. I can only state the facts. Which is what I've been doing since the beginning.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge
Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Here.

Six times. Six times I’ve cited this unequivocal fact in the course of this discussion.

Six times you’ve either failed to see it, failed to understand it, or failed to retain it.

Knowledge talks, wisdom listens. Try listening every once in a while, especially to those who very clearly know more than you do.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

"In that specific instance, you might even be right, but do you actually KNOW you are right?"

Stop being such a despicable human being.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/07/two-tier-justice-southport-rioters-freed-julie-sweeney-not

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Of course I’m not required to respond. I do it because the basic psychology of people who’ve been proven comprehensively wrong and yet still retort with “Yes but you…” amuses me.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: The UK is STUNNED! GIMP used to damage the minds of Primary School children!

I've stopped reading what that one in the corner writes because it's pointless dross. I'm reading and responding to comments by other posters.

You can call me what you like; I'm content in the knowledge that I'm (a) absolutely right about where the name comes from and what it means, and (b) entitled to make my own choice based on my views. Much like my clients, which was the original point.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Every comment since my first one - every single one - has been a response to somebody else who's got their panties in a bunch about the fact that years ago, I made a personal choice not to install an app due to the name.

For a group that's ostensibly driven by freedom of choice, Linux geeks sure are touchy about people who don't conform to their view of the 'correct' choice. If y'all didn't keep hammering on about it, I wouldn't still be here. Feel free to prove my point by not responding.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Oh I'm over it. I was over it years ago, when I decided not to install it.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Upvoted for neatly making my point for me.

Thank you.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

"I got busted?"

Yes. You denied it was a backronym, then when confronted with prima facie evidence and citations from the literal creator of the app (https://www.xach.com/gg/1997/1/profile/1/) you backtracked into a "Yeah but it's not MUCH of a backronym, so there" argument.

Busted.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: [citation needed]

I strongly suspect most of those downvoting never got past the 'sniggering teenager' phase themselves. And I agree the original intent was more humorous than derogatory, and they probably never expected the program would become such a huge hit. If you anticipate your user base never being more than a few thousand Linux nerds, then why bother giving it a 'professional' name?

But here we are. Professional people including myself would like to use it in a professional context, but won't because of the childishly offensive name.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Search Google or Aliexpress for 'Gimp Mask' and you'll see that the word in that context is very, very much alive and well.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Yes it is. And a BDSM reference.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Yes it bothers me. Yes I wish it, they, the majority of the commenters here and Linux itself would grow up and go through puberty.

Because I am genuinely attracted to the idea of great software that’s not beholden to huge corporations and mindfuckingly insane subscription models.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Where did I feign surprise at the reaction? Nowhere, is the answer; so don’t waste your time looking.

Re not worrying about what others think; that must be nice. Personally my financial livelihood depends on clients seeing me as a mature business professional; these clients are typically older, principled, and extremely wealthy; so they can make snap decisions about whether I’m the “type” they want to do business with; and if not they have plenty of other options.

So yes, I do care about what they think. Certainly when it comes to the relatively low effort involved in not installing a piece of software with a childishly shit name.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: The UK is STUNNED! GIMP used to damage the minds of Primary School children!

"...it is getting a bit tedious having to do the homework for people like Lord Elpuss"

I've stopped reading most of what you write anyway. Feel free not to bother.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

"You keep saying "names matter". Why are you labelling people with these names?"

You can believe names matter, and also use labels when appropriate. I didn't say "Don't use names or labels".

I used the terms GenX and boomers because it adequately describes the specific calibre of clients to which I am referring; those who are more likely than not to take offense at something they don't really understand due to a combination of lack of awareness, and lack of contextual relevance in their lives.

"BTW, if you think older people are incapable of flexibility in understanding..."

Some are. Older people are generally less flexible in their thinking and approaches than younger people. And if that offends you, well... I suggest you be more flexible.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

No you're correct. The name is a grossly offensive ableist insult and derived from a BDSM film character. I'm sure the program itself is absolutely fine.

PS I assume you meant take offence and not take office. I'm not planning to run for election on this.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Which you clearly don't, given your general shoutiness here...

GCHQ intern took top secret spy tool home, now faces prison

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Unless you're from Sarf Lahndon

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

"and studying math, cryptography, and language skills"

*maths.

50 years ago the last Saturn rocket rolled out of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Didn't know that either - thank you!

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

As a self-confessed Apollo program geek, I thought I'd heard or seen pretty much everything associated with that remarkable period; but I never knew about the milkstool for the IB. Thank you for this bit of knowledge!

O2's AI granny knits tall tales to waste scam callers' time

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

"If they have your phone number, they have your name and address already."

Really no.

Datacenters near Heathrow seemingly stay up as substation fire closes airport

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

Re: Third Runway needed.

If you care that much about the environment you could try holding your breath for an hour; save some oxygen.

Lord Elpuss Silver badge

"How many hours do you waste commuting, in traffic or travelling ?"

Waste, practically none these days. My work agenda allows me to choose my times of travel.

When I do drive, I enjoy it. Taking the family on road trips. Going with the wife to a restaurant that's a half-hour by car, but more than two hours by public transport. Hitching a trailer and hauling something big or helping out the neighbors. Just going for a drive with the top down and enjoying the solitude.

The fact that you repeatedly fail to see any of this make me pity you a little. Not much though, because I love my life and your bitterness is your problem.