Re: Are LUG's Hurting Linux?

[Jon 'maddog' Hall, Executive Director, Linux International]

Kenny,

>> Be in-your-face-offensive about Linux.  Wear penguin clothing and
>> pins, not only to Linux meetings, but to church.  I had two people in the
>> Dunkin' Donuts yesterday ask me about Linux, having seen my penguin.

> This is where many people differ in opinion. Some will say that the
> best way to advocate is to be subtle and to infiltrate quietly, while
> others believe more in the "in-your-face" tactics. Now, being the shy,
> quiet type that I am, I have problems with that ;-) Seriously, though,
> I have to agree that it is best to be up front and brutally honest in
> advocating Linux. If someone says that they have a problem with a
> Microsoft product, tell them that you have the solution and hand them
> a Linux CD! 

Like the word "free", there are several meanings of the word "offensive".

        o One can "offend" someone (this is not what I meant)
        o One can be "aggressive" rather than "passive" (this is what I meant)

I don't think that people mind having you "hand them a Linux CD" when they
have a "Microsoft problem".  Likewise when you only wear penguin clothing
to Linux meetings, you are "preaching to the choir".  A more aggressive
approach is to wear penguin and Linux clothing all the time.  For those of
you who are in professional circles, a nice "Tux" pin on your lapel
develops both recognition from fellow devotees and questions from newbies.

On the other hand, when your boss wearily tells you for the seven hundredth time
during a meeting that "no, we are not going to use Linux there", perhaps it is
time to back off a little (or take a new tactic, like training his son's
computer club in how to use Linux).

>How do we advertise the excitement that we have for Linux?

How about changing the name from "installfest" to "Linuxfest"?

Change the description from "Having trouble installing Linux?...Come to our..."

to

"Come to our meeting to find out about Linux.  Bring your PC and walk away with
a fully-operational, powerful operating system.  Talk with Linux volunteers
about uses of your Linux system like:

        o home firewall
        o file and print sharing of home systems using Linux
        o building a supercomputer for your neighborhood school out of
          inexpensive or donated PCs.
        o etc,, etc

Join in the Linux community of users, systems administrators and programmers
crafting a better tomorrow.  Have fun!!  Drink [root] beer!

Nowhere did I even hint that it was hard to install or use (mostly because
it is not), but I stressed the learning, informational part.

Finally, when you talk about it, put a smile on that mug of yours.  Remember,
you are right, they are mislead.  You have the high ground.

md
-- 
=============================================================================
Jon "maddog" Hall
Executive Director           Linux(R) International
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]         80 Amherst St. 
Voice: +1.603.672.4557       Amherst, N.H. 03031-3032 U.S.A.
WWW: http://www.li.org

Board Member: Uniforum Association, USENIX Association

(R)Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in several countries.


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