Since I see this as something that bothers Haifux as well, I am also sending it to Haifux list. This was originally sent to the (public) "w2l list". Please answer to which list you find relevant. I find it relevant to Haifux as well since it is about the Haifux instaparties, and since we want to open a real discussion about it (not only about w2l), and we assume that we want to hear all kinds of opinions. Please ignore this email if you don't want to hear anything related to Haifux instaparty. Thanks and sorry.
On 9/13/05, Orr Dunkelman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Despite what Adir wrote, I still haven't seen any true discussion about
the existence of Linux Day. If people (especially haifux people) would
care to join their voices.
I also don't see anybody who is *really against* it. OK, the ones who are truly agaisnt it are known - you, Orna and Alon. SO?
I also haven't seen any real discussion about the w2l series as well, SO?
Haven't any of you learnt the lesson that people don't like writing emails too much? Assuming to any direction because of the silence is wrong, IMHO. I also don't expect that to change too much, unless I raised a few eyebrows now.
I actually think that the beginners series is less important than the instaparty, since in the instaparty people actually learn and implement things. I also described how it would look. I also believe that it is quite obvious to everybody that an instaparty will or at least should be, and I asked everybody to say why he is actually against such a thing. Actually, you (any of you) have no reason in the world to be against it. I am seeing in the last years this very sad direction - more talking and less real help to people. You only talk and forward them to do things. Once a year, it can be different. Once a year, we can REALLY help them. If any of you think that it is not cost effective, not worth it, or doesn't feel that he can really install something but only talk about installing - don't join my effort. It is my effort to help people the way I see it - do more, talk less. If you want to lecture, just lecture. Don't bother people who want to do it alternativelly (the right way as I see it). I am only asking for one thing - advertise it. I have no time and other resources to do this work. Here's the formula to destroy an instaparty - just don't publish it.
I actually wrote in my email (if anybody bothered to read) that I am looking to find out if good advertising is going to help. If people do care about Linux and want to install it, they would LOVE to get a free installation, and all the excuses of "they can do it at home" will not help you. They will not do it at home. They will do it if someone guides them, not "theoretically" speaking, but really to do it. If installing Linuxes is too "black for your hands", Orna, Alon and Orr - don't bother to install. Don't bother to help. Let me do the work. Just advertise it. I will know that your advertisement helped if there was an interest in your series. Why? Because the instaparty is the "Duvdevan Bakatzefet". I don't only see it as helping, but also a (good) excuse for people to come to the series. Yes, I think that if people come to the w2l series this time, it is because they will hear that there's going to be an instaparty. Actually the instaparty was the real attraction and the w2l series was the "bonus". Now it is the opposite, if not worse. Add to that the bad advertising - and it all comes to bad promotion of Linux in general, the same mistake which we did 2-3 times already.
For once, UNDERSTAND what I think about promoting Linux to people WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH IT:
1) Linux makes people scary. It means a different OS, a different method, a different way of Life. Something unknown, unfamiliar - a mistery. If you don't agree with this - you are not familiar with other OSes, nor you are not familiar with people (simple people who don't really care much about their OS, but they are curious by nature).
2) As such, they will not want to jump into the cold water alone. They would like to hear that "Linux is friendly". They would LOVE to see that it is working. They would WANT or even demand a real help. A real help, my friends, is not only talking, but actually showing *in their own computers* that things work.
3) Once a year, we have the real oppurtunity to help people and guide them, not only by speaking, but also by doing. Once a year!
4) An instaparty is the real motivation to hear something about Linux. Since Linux is not about theory, but about working with it (at least for most of the users. I'm not talking about developers at the moment, although they are also users by default), they will want to see a real installation. Knowing that it will happen, or at least can happen - they will have a good excuse to come to the w2l series. The "talking" series.
Once again - I represented by own, unique opinion about the issue. I don't force it on anybody (although I am a bit angry, just ignore it), but here's the only real reasons I see, not to give an instaparty this year:
1) if I see that people don't want to help with the instaparty - there will not be an instaparty this year since I'm not going to do things alone or with a few people. The more who join the mission, the less work ALL of us will do. I hereby ask you people to HELP. You don't have to commit. Just say that you can or want to help. If there are going to be enough people - the work will be divided so that everybody will do very little work.
2) There will also not be an instaparty if it is not going to be published, on purpose or not on purpose.
3) There will not be an instaparty if I see very few people come to the w2l series. In this case I will know for sure - people don't care much about it, or seriously don't want an instaparty, unless I hear from people directly that they are going to come to the instaparty and not to a w2l.
Regards (and sorry about the tone),
Adir.
