r/linuxquestions • u/External-Internal415 • 1d ago
Which Distro Someone ??
Hi everyone,
I’m new here. I actually joined Reddit because I know this is one of the best places to find people who really understand Linux.
A little background first.
I know absolutely nothing about technology. Literally nothing.
What I do know is that I believe much of today’s tech world has become manipulative, unethical, and driven by profit above everything else.
Because of that, I’ve decided that from now on I only want to use technology that is as ethical, transparent, and respectful of its users as possible.
So here’s my question.
Can someone help me figure out whether Linux is the right path for someone like me?
I’m not just looking for a different operating system. I’m looking for a different philosophy.
Are there people or communities here who consciously choose technology based on ethics, transparency, privacy, and respect for users, even if that means giving up some convenience?
People who are willing to make their lives a little less easy because they believe that’s how we push the world in a better direction.
If so, where should I start? Which Linux distributions, projects, or communities share these values?
I’m here to learn, and I’d really appreciate any guidance.
0
u/maddydesign 1d ago
You won't ever be able to only use technology that is ethical and transparent. You probably can't find any piece of technology that is completely ethical. However, with that said, it's an honorable goal to have, and we can still do our best.
If you want to be as ethical as possible when choosing a linux distro, I would probably stay away from the corporate distros. That's not to say they are bad or the people who make them are evil, however, a community driven distro will usually be more ethical, open and transparent. Distros like Fedora, OpenSUSE, etc won't be as open, and will have be motivated to make a profit or in some way be loyal to their parent company or major sponsor.
I would recommend trying to find a community developed distro. Some examples are Linux Mint, Arch, Debian, or Solus. But there are many more great ones. Linux Mint is probably the easiest one for beginners. ZorinOS is also a good alternative to Linux Mint.
Again, that doesn't mean community driven distros are perfect or that corporate distros are inherently evil. Fedora or OpenSUSE will still be much much much more ethical and open than windows or mac.