On Thu, 15 Jan 2009, Payne, Owen wrote:
"I doubt we'd look like a Hare Krishna group or anything, because we're
not promoting a belief system, we're providing a public education
service which applies to the field of technology and computing
(something which is very useful!)."
Hmm, well one of these events I've been to overseas had lots of Mr Onion
head types wombling around in their slayer and metallica t shirts
handing out the latest distros and trying to ( unsuccessfully) engage
members of the public in conversation; It was a bit embarrassing.
Well I was going to say the Hare Krishna's at least have a certain
exotic sense of style...
http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2007-01-25
Trouble is you are going before people who are trying desperately to
rip as much cash out of their clients... for doing whatever they do...
And then you're trying to tell them, uh, well, actually free is
better.
The trouble is when they say "free", they think of the crippled and
useless freebies they give away in vague hope that someone will
remember them.
The notion of "free" as in "freedom" doesn't occur.
Conversely decades of right leaning, umm, ah, "education" have made
"freedom" and "liberation" dirty, tainted and gut level deeply feared
words. ("Bloody Commie/Terrorist!")
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
Perhaps we should shift to talking about "collaborative",
"unhindered", "unencumbered", "always available", "groupware",
"batteries included", "digital rights included software".
John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639
Tait Electronics Fax : (64)(3) 359 4632
PO Box 1645 Christchurch Email : [email protected]
New Zealand
