Confused on Steam Play and Proton? Be sure to check out our guide.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.
It appears some people in the community just want to see me fail, but others just outright don't know what they are talking about. I want to put some claims about us ripping off others work to rest.

The fact is, we and other sites do have some crossover in content. This is impossible not to have, since we are interested in some of the same stuff and we are subscribed to the same mailing lists, following the same RSS feeds, same Twitter feeds and so on.

Recently there have been some baseless claims that I have been ripping off Phoronix. Due to posting about Mesa, but to make this very clear that is not true. I am subscribed to the exact same public mailing lists and I included a shot of it sat in my inbox to help:
image
That's only my personal email box, I also have our official gamingonlinux email inboxes with their own subscribed lists.

That led to further claims like this:
QuoteEveryone knows that Liam rips off every possible source but they give him a pass because he spends time for the linux gaming cause.

To make it really clear. Here's three articles right away showing how little I care about linking to Phoronix 1 - 2 - 3. Notice the very clear links to Phoronix. You will see in 99% of articles I clearly link to places that I either got the information from, or who inspired me to write about the subject.

As some more examples, the article I wrote about ditching SteamOS in favour of a normal distribution. You will see the very clear link in it to BoilingSteam as they inspired the article.

I could pull out a near endless list of our articles where we source people far and wide. Okay, so not nearly endless, but you get the idea.

Any regular reader of GOL will know we credit our sources in a very clear way. I am not afraid of linking to a source of information. Why would I be? I don't depend on revenue from every single page visit as we don't have adverts. I don't need to worry about sending you elsewhere with source links.

Then it leads me to this:
QuoteIf I was you I would NEVER waste your time on GamingOnLinux.com - Liam doesn't value "freedom of speech" and has no problem banning and censoring content which he deems contraversial or which personally pisses him off or rubs him wrong.

Trust me, you're far better off on a forum with no dictator like /r/linux_gaming or the Google+ group IMO.

Yes, we do ban people and remove content when it breaks our few short rules, or when you outright attack other people or me directly. GOL is not reddit, our website is not a safe haven for personal attacks to be made. Freedom of speech does not apply on a privately run website that prides itself on having a respectful community. Break our rules and we will deal with it, it's a simple thing to understand.
It's also funny, because a moderator of /r/linux_gaming replied to that post telling them "To disabuse you of that perception: Keep behaving like a twat and I'll ban you.". The moderators on /r/linux_gaming do a pretty good job!

No one is perfect and I sure as hell am not, but I am trying to do interesting stuff and dealing with people trying to discredit me is becoming more of a hassle. I will not give up, so don't worry about that. I just want to make sure that when people read stuff like that, not to believe it.

I also had to come to terms with the fact that other people will likely have the same sources as me, so to people like Phoronix who I have at times poked with "you didn't source us!" or some junk, I apologise.

Also, I recently became an Antergos convert, you should all try it. It's really great and surprisingly way more stable than Ubuntu has ever been for me.

Now, can we move on, stop claiming silly things and let me do the job my Patreon supporters pay me to do? Thank you <3 Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Editorial
33 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
36 comments
Page: «2/4»
  Go to:

boltronics Jan 18, 2017
I don't read Reddit, so wasn't aware of the accusations people were throwing around. I know a while back there were people here saying "I don't visit that other site" which I never quite understood, but I could easily imagine there would be some tension between fans of each site. I know Michael's articles can be sensationalist and even click-baity at times, but he does a great job of keeping people informed of matters which they otherwise would not be aware.

I do regularly read both websites, and while there is some clear overlap, they are both great news sources and have different focuses. Phoronix generally seems to focus more on benchmarks and various project developments - related not just to gaming, but virtualisation, networking, file systems, etc. All free software bleeding edge tech news, and only very light gaming-specific news (aside from benchmarks and a few things like major game releases). GamingOnLinux as the name implies, focuses more on game releases, game development, game reviews, game sales, graphics drivers, opinion pieces, etc. related to GNU/Linux.

Phoronix is more geared up towards technical talk about driver development and performance since Michael's got the whole OpenBencharking setup (and he's been in the game years longer), but Liam often spends a lot of time actually playing the games he writes about - something Michael admits he doesn't have time to do. I find it very useful to get both perspectives.

When I see an article about a new Mesa git commit published by both Phoronix and GamingOnLinux, to me that means the commit is exciting from both points of view and is especially interesting news. To automatically assume one site is ripping off the other feels like needlessly jumping to conclusions and being a bit narrow-minded. I can only suggest to Liam and Michael to not let such comments bother you. As the comment above says, "haters goanna hate". Everyone else thinks you're both doing a great job - the people that matter.
F.Ultra Jan 18, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter
Quotef I was you I would NEVER waste your time on GamingOnLinux.com - Liam doesn't value "freedom of speech" and has no problem banning and censoring content which he deems contraversial or which personally pisses him off or rubs him wrong.

Trust me, you're far better off on a forum with no dictator like /r/linux_gaming or the Google+ group IMO.
So there still exists people who confuses "freedom of speech" with "freedom to bully" or that think that spreading directly false information and lies should always be without consequences.
pete910 Jan 18, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Kinda sad you have to do a article like this, seems people have know idea what or that email/dev lists exist :O
amckinnon Jan 18, 2017
It is always hilarious when Americans believe their first amendment right applies to everything when in fact it only applies to their government.

Liam, do not pay attention to those that doubt you. You do a great job here. Thank you.
Nanobang Jan 18, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter
The only --- let's call them "people" --- who would make such a ludicrous claim about GoL are benighted, banal mouth breathers who are unable or unwilling to understand the nature of media and journalism, especially in the echo chamber that is the internet.

These "people" don't know that for the past few centuries, if there's news to report upon, then multiple people will report upon it. The first person to report upon a story can claim bragging rights that he or she got "the scoop," but that's it. There is no right to exclusivity in a publicly reported news item.

These "people" often misunderstand (inasmuch as they can be said to understand it at all) their Right to "Freedom of Speech" to mean that they have a right to be listened to and receive the undivided attention of anyone within earshot.

I'm glad you wrote this editorial, Liam. You're right not to ignore the squawking and quacking of bigots, false accusers and crackpots. To allow these cretins to gibber inanities amongst the reasonable is to allow another to slaver and drool upon one's dinner plate. Overwhelm them with truth and, if necessary, drive them to the frigid gloom beyond the edges of society where they can feast on the excrement of their fellow dullards.
Nanobang Jan 18, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter
Oh, and Liam, about Antergos, I hope you'll write up a review once you've spent more time with it. With the upcoming changes to Ubuntu over the next couple of years, I'm anticipating I'll want to switch to another distro. I'll be interested in what you have to say.
Liam Dawe Jan 18, 2017
Quoting: PicoboomOh, and Liam, about Antergos, I hope you'll write up a review once you've spent more time with it. With the upcoming changes to Ubuntu over the next couple of years, I'm anticipating I'll want to switch to another distro. I'll be interested in what you have to say.
I've been thinking on that very topic :)
JudasIscariot Jan 18, 2017
Liam, you must answer this burning question for me :P

How did you become an Antergos convert? :D
Liam Dawe Jan 18, 2017
Quoting: JudasIscariotLiam, you must answer this burning question for me :P

How did you become an Antergos convert? :D
Blame our IRC channel for that!
JudasIscariot Jan 18, 2017
Quoting: liamdawe
Quoting: JudasIscariotLiam, you must answer this burning question for me :P

How did you become an Antergos convert? :D
Blame our IRC channel for that!

Very nice :D Glad to hear it's working out for you :)
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.