raymor

Lately I've been seeing both sides of a lot of things. This FEELS like a major step.of becoming more mature. Do you think it is? Whereas in earlier elections I would often advocate strongly for a certain candidate, the last two years I've had what feels like a much more balanced view. In this election, for example, I can see the strengths and weaknesses of various candidates and I'm a fanboy for none.

We just had a thread that turned into a discussion of energy policy. I can see a place for wind, where it makes sense, a place for solar, a place for natural gas, etc. While some people are solar fanboys who say solar is perfect, for every use and every place, I now see that it's useful in sunny areas, not so much in New England. Unlike the way I used to be, I'm now okay with the facts that solar produces less carbon dioxide than natural gas, for example, but way more arsenic, cadmium, and lead. I know longer have to see it as either perfect or horrible. I'm now comfortable with the fact that all things have their benefits and their drawbacks.

Personally, I use Linux a lot and I've introduced a lot if people to Linux. Lately I've also told some people they would probably be better off sticking with Windows. If they like to keep buying the hottest new games, Windows is for them. If they know the registry inside and out and don't want to learn a whole new way of doing things, I tell them they may not like Linux, because they already know so much about Windows that wouldn't apply to Linux. On the other hand, if someone has never edited the registry and they pretty much just want Firefox to work and keep working without worrying about viruses, malware, and crashes all the time, Linux is perfect for those people, I now think.

Do you think this is really a much more mature way of thinking than being a Linux fanboy, a Mac fanboy, a Ron Paul fanboy, etc., or does it just feel like a wiser course?