[js2]

older SysAdmins

I hope you aren't referring to their age, in which case consider using a different adjective: experienced, seasoned, wiser, etc. Your colleagues probably don't want to install fish shell for reasons besides how old they are.

[gervase]

Or, if you disagree with their opinion: hidebound, closeminded, timorous, etc.

I think the parent was going for something indicating disagreement, so it seems unlikely that your "positive" adjectives are what they were looking for.

[js2]

I've been on both sides of the equation, having disagreed with sysadmins about their enforcing of a particular login shell, and having been a sysadmin myself. Not installing fish shell on production systems ("across the farm") is something I'd chalk up to wisdom, not a lack of open-mindedness. I was subtly suggesting that in my choice of positive adjectives.

[mixmastamyk]

Really, you shouldn't be logging in interactively into production machines, so no need to install extra tools by default.

[kkirsche]

This to me makes too many assumptions. I'm sorry but experience doesn't mean wise. And in many cases experience can mean complacent or scared of change.

[kbenson]

Neither experience not wise was used. Older was used. You are comparing two possible substitutions with each other, not the original term. There's not much point to that.

[qorrect]

I just found HN a couple months ago and have been lurking since then. I just want to comment on how nice it is to see such sane conversations, and how reading all these comments makes me happy, and that I feel really at home here even just lurking.