[Bug 280941] The reboot command considered harmful

https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=280941

--- Comment #13 from Aljoscha Vollmerhaus <bugs.freebsd.org@aljoscha.vollmerhaus.net> ---
I believe the issue stems from the way "reboot, the action" is easily conflated
with "reboot, the command". When users are told to "reboot," it’s natural to
assume that the simplest and most direct way to do so is by running reboot.

For example, even freebsd-update instructs users:
"[...] Please reboot and run freebsd-update again [...]".

It’s reasonable to assume that many users will instinctively type reboot in
response - I certainly did.

And why wouldn’t they? At no point is there any indication that "reboot" is not
intended for normal reboots. Casual use of the term "reboot", even in official
tools, reinforces the assumption that the reboot command is the correct and
expected way to do so.

So while official tools could certainly use "shutdown -r now" instead of
"reboot", I strongly believe that "reboot" is so deeply ingrained in the
vocabulary of both IT professionals - including FreeBSD devs it seems - and
everyday users, that trying to educate every potential FreeBSD user about this
distinction would be an uphill battle.
Regardless of prior experience with Linux or whatever else.

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