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Re: [Fsuk-manchester] GNU/Linux users (was: Mission statement - request


From: Tim Dobson
Subject: Re: [Fsuk-manchester] GNU/Linux users (was: Mission statement - request for comments)
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:04:38 +0100

>> Many of those GNU/Linux systems are run by users that don't care about free 
>> software
>> and happily install non-free software on their systems.

> Should we not also be targeting these people though? I don't think
> it's bad that some people don't care about free software, I'm not sure
> that everyone should (some people don't even care about computers!),
> but I think that people who are interested enough to run GNU/Linux are
> worth targeting (but not lecturing).

Totally. I completely agree here.
Many people who come to our meetings don't really care about free software.
This is a desirable outcome. It is even more desirable if they go away
from their second or third meeting thinking about how they can help
promote freedom.
Sure there's switching to gNewSense, but if they run OS X at home,
they might want to go on a different distro first.

These people are valuable to our community and should not be underestimated.

We should continue to organise insightful non-technical talks on
issues relating to free software (Simon is doing an excellent job here
at the moment I believe), whilst welcoming everyone from all walks of
life who have diverse opinions on free software.
By doing this, I hope we will inspire people to think about using free
software in situations where they don't usually, even if
ostentatiously, they are a vocal critic.

> I dislike the way everything is seen in a very 'black & white'
> fashion. A lot of GNU/Linux users do care about free software, but
> don't have a problem installing non-free flash (for example), that
> doesn't mean they are the enemy though and they still aren't the enemy
> even if they simply don't care whether flash is free or not. I think
> we should be trying (in a friendly way) to educate and raise awareness
> of the issues with these people.

Being friendly is the key to everything! No one should take a joke too
far or push someone further than they want to go, but obviously
raising awareness in a friendly manner is a logical way to do things.

I cared about freedom a lot a while ago, and yet i still used flash
because I "believed" i needed it. Once several people showed me
various alternatives and pointed out why I don't, I haven't had any
problems surfing the without it. I'm happy to help anyone out here, if
you want to contact me on or off list.

Keep Smiling!

Tim

-- 
www.tdobson.net
----
If each of us have one object, and we exchange them, then each of us
still has one object.
If each of us have one idea, and we exchange them, then each of us now
has two ideas. - George Bernard Shaw




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