I think he has a really good point. I consider myself acceptably tech literate, I'm not afraid of the command line even if I don't really understand how to use it, I've built my own computers for years, and I have a pretty custom configuration of Windows.

One thing a windows user can typically be sure of is that if it's meant to work, it probably will. There is a pretty black and white environment of what's possible and what isn't. Linux is very much more "give it a shot" style computing for beginners. It breaks much more easily, it can be very confusing to configure, and it's just different.

I think if it similarly to cars. Some people, like myself, love driving, enjoy tinkering with the car, maybe drive a standard for they joy of it. But most people just want a car to take them to work and the store. Most people just want a computer to work, either for their job or their hobby, but the hobby isn't tinkering with software. The fact that even the very packaged and polished distros can require more than basic tech literacy to configure is likely what turns a lot of people away, whether or not that's actually the case.

And getting snippy saying somebody is butthurt (which is fucking homophobic btw) is absolutely going to keep pushing people away if they think the community is full of holier than thou Linux nerds that don't understand how to communicate with normal people.

I'm currently experimenting with different distros right now and am having a similar experience to the person you are replying to.

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.