As has been pointed out before, the FSF doesn't have this problem with "Join" implying equal status. So I'd trust them on this, as native speakers :-)
Best Jonas On November 30, 2017 4:43:23 PM GMT+01:00, Daniel Pocock <[email protected]> wrote: > > >On 30/11/17 16:26, Gergely Székely wrote: >> Hi! >> >> I think it was not a good idea at all to change the "Join the ..." to >> "Become a supporter". >> > > >Asking people to join means they should have an equal status. The >current constitution doesn't treat all members equally (a GA member has >a different legal status than a fellowship member, supporter or >volunteer). > >Using the word "Join", therefore, is unhelpful and some people may even >feel deceived. > > >> My point is that "being a member" of something (even if just an >> associate one) suggests a much stronger bound than being just a >> "supporter". So I think using phrases as "Join the FSFE", "become >a(n >> associate) member" etc is way more compelling for most of the people. >> >> In my view "supporter" is someone outside of the circle while >> "any-kind-of member" is someone who is inside of the circle. So I do >> believe demoting "fellowship members" to mere "supporters" made this >> status too cold and less compelling. >> >> I think FSF is doing this much better. If you visit fsf.org this time >of >> the year you immediately run into a very encouraging and inviting >banner >> about joining them. >> > >What is the legal status of joining FSF? Is every member equal, every >member can vote at the annual meeting? > > >> I really miss this inviting spirit from fsfe.org. >> (Also, why is no similar banner on fsfe.org in the last two months of >> every year?) >> > >Facebook invites people to join. Is it good for them? Of course not. >Appearing friendly while having no integrity is a common business model >though. > >> I think recruiting members and encouraging people to donate is >important. >> So it worth making extra efforts to doing it right. >> >> What do you think? > > >A motion passed at the recent GA meeting aims to change the way people >can become members in future: > > >15. Proposal to reform FSFE's governance structure >Proposal: > FSFE will reform it’s organisational structure to accommodate a wider >base of membership, and separate between membership and the governing >organs. To achieve that, FSFE will prepare and propose the necessary >changes to the bylaws for adoption at the 2018 general assembly. FSFE >will prepare and implement the vetting and acceptance of the existing >contributor base into the organisation as members. FSFE will prepare >and >implement the first board elections to be held at the 2018 or a later >general assembly. These tasks will be carried out by the executive >director and president in cooperation with the current GA. > > >Result: 10 for, 5 against, 8 abstentions > > > >After that is completed it will hopefully be safe to use the word >"Join" >again without any ambiguity. > >Regards, > >Daniel >_______________________________________________ >Discussion mailing list >[email protected] >https://lists.fsfe.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion Jonas Öberg Free Software Foundation Europe | [email protected] Your support enables our work (fsfe.org/join) _______________________________________________ Discussion mailing list [email protected] https://lists.fsfe.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion
