Meeting Minutes online 2012-05-16 (was: Re: Meeting tonight?)

[Cyber Penguin]

On Sat, May 19, 2012 at 11:04 PM, Mario Behling <mb at mariobehling.de> wrote:


> * Calling for and casting votes of groups that do not involve a number
> of core contributors to the actual system or to lubuntu components can
> only be regarded as - what it is - an opinion of some users in the
> community. The outcome cannot be regarded as a decision for the
> project.
>
>

That was not a pleasant message to read. I hoped the "no code, no
vote"-opinion was a thing of the past.


Lubuntu is an operating system from nerds to nerds, and that's a problem -
I'm a nerd myself, by the way.

If Lubuntu is going to get just a slight marketshare we have to abandon
this way of thinking. The first step is to take people's opinions seriously
- "people" meaning everyone who gets in touch with the system. We should
not only pay respect to their vote, but actively seek their opinion.

Some people here need to ask themselves: Why is Apple such a succes? For
the most part it comes from a no-compromise focus on the end-user and his
needs and wishes. Imagine going to a board meeting at Apple suggesting that
only "contributors" have a word to say...



Keeping a Lubuntu oligarchy is counterproductive, it creates
dissatisfaction and scares new people away from doing an effort. Let's take
an example, which is entirely made up. Any resemblance to real characters
is a coincidence.

A new web site is proposed in a process where everybody can not only post
their opinions, they are encouraged to do so. After development the site is
put to a vote where a vast majority supports the change.

An extended period of radio silence goes by, and some day a new site is
going live having nothing in common with the site people voted for. In
stead the official Lubuntu domain is used to promote a personal desire of
blogging.

Remembering this is only fiction, how would we expect the community to
receive the change?

a) I'm sorry I cast the wrong vote. Thanks for knowing what was best for
me.
b) This is not the way I want to cooperate - followed by intense
discussions on the mailing list about concentration of power and leading to
key people stepping down from their posts.


Of course there can be exceptions where a coder has a certain specialist
knowledge in his field, but what we see is a small number of coders feeling
the right to make decisions far away from their area of expertise.

I was hoping the recent turbulence had convinced everyone that the 'some
animals are more equal than others'-approach must go, but apparently there
is still some trace left. When forming new guidelines for the community I
hope everybody will take part in putting it to sleep for good.


regards
CP
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