[PLUG] How did I offend? was [Re: Apology appropriate?]

[Richard Owlett]

On 02/04/2018 08:00 AM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> My brother asked about receiving unsolicited emails after visiting a 
> specific website. I don't use any of the providers he does. His 
> interests are quite different than mine and I suspect we rarely, if 
> ever, visit the the same sites.
> 
> I asked some OS agnostic questions. When I found that he had recently 
> changed *OS _versions*, I mentioned it. In passing I mentioned that it 
> was two versions of Windows. Some were apparently offended that their 
> assistance was assisting a Windows user. For possible offense, I apologize.
> 
> King Beowulf's post causes me to realize that the underlying problem is 
> cookie control and the use of free(sic) services/sites. Have routinely 
> avoided unrestricted use of cookies, JavaScript, and so-called "free" 
> services since the early days of WindowsXP.

What did I do wrong?
I am the family geek.
My brother uses *THAT* [description deleted] OS.
He asked a legitimate question that I could not answer.
I thought there was generic problem.
What would be acceptable to this OS explicit forum?

P.S. Earlier this A.M. I received a panic *HELP* email from a friend 
from the last century. He users *THAT* OS. I believe there are 
appropriate Linux tools available to address the underlying problem.

May I ask related OS agnostic questions?