Re-imagining

[Ralph Janke]

On Mon, Apr 08, 2013 at 08:43:29AM -0700, Randall Ross wrote:
> On 13-04-08 07:07 AM, Ralph Janke <txwikinger at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> >
> > It would be very unfortunate to replace one Windows with another one. The idea
> > of the FLOSS movement is not to replace Microsoft with a more tame Open Source
> > version, which still eliminates choices for the user.
> Let's not introduce this false dilemma. We are in no danger of an Ubuntu
> monopoly.

It was never raised as a dilemma, it was raised as a metapher explaining the 
purpose of Open Source. 
> >
> >
> > More choices does not have to mean, more complicated. While I personally have
> > never tried Mint, what I am hearing, it seems they are focus on the original goal
> > by the *buntu community (at least as it was often stated) to create a Linux 
> > distribution that is easy to use.
> There is an implication that Ubuntu's goal has changed. If anything it
> has become more prominently declared: Ubuntu is for everyone, regardless
> of their knowledge of technology.
Maybe you have not been as long with Ubuntu as I have, so you may not be
fully aware of the history. The goals of Ubuntu have changed numerous times
since I have been involved.

There is nothing wrong with changing goals, situations changing, so goals must
too. However, the question is also if how the changes commence and what the
consense about those changes are. In a volunteer community, there are very different
group dynamics and motivations than in a business orgnaisation. If goals change, there
is a chance that those do not align with the goals of members of the group. There is
no reason to chatise those who do not ascribe to the same changes as the powers to be.
There is a reason why so many people seem to find more alignment with Mint, and I think
we need to be aware and reflective about this fact.

> >
> >
> >
> > In this context, I would really like to see the DVD being mastered in a way
> > that allows the user to choose between different desktops. While it can 
> > be debated for infinity which desktop is the best, neither of them fits
> > with everybody's requirements, and hence the choice is additive, not divisive.
> Most people that would enjoy Ubuntu (i.e. those still on the other side
> of the chasm) do not know or care what a DE is. If we suddenly got
> everybody who is not currently aware of Ubuntu (especially those who
> struggle with basic computing tasks) on "standard" Ubuntu and let them
> learn it for a year, then perhaps we could come back with some science
> and make smarter choices about defaults that make even the most
> difficult tasks simple. Right now the best data we have is what we have
> gathered is limited (from focus groups and community feedback.) Throwing
> a dozen DE's and variants at a person new to this Ubuntu world is not a
> kind way to introduce them to it. It's confusing.

People are not on the other side of the chasm, products are on one or the 
other side. Furthermore this is exactly the 1337 attitude that drives so
many people away from the *buntu community. Why do you think you know better
than the person who wants to use a product. Are you omniscient? Do you
ever listen while you advocate or is your understanding of advocating
a cheap knockoff of an MLM system? In fact this all sounds like from the
handbook of a used-car salesperson.

The emancipation of the user is our strength in Open Source, not their emasculation!

> >
> > A good role I could LoCo see to take on is to create an environment to bounce
> > around ideas. I believe collaboration is the big social part of Open Source, not
> > only Ubuntinis. It would be great if you could make strides in this regard. 
> I sense an implication that Ubuntu Vancouver (inventor of the Ubuntini)
> is about "only Ubuntinis". If that is indeed the implication, then that
> is not only a comment that is sadly insensitive to the dozens of
> volunteers who make our group special, but also highly inaccurate. I
> can't recall ever seeing you at an Ubuntu Vancouver event, and I have
> been to over 130 of them so I'm curious why you'd make this apparent
> false assumption.
> 
> I will add that collaboration can and does take many forms, and the
> product of collaboration needn't be code. Ubuntu groups in cities and
> towns everywhere should think outside the (code) box to see where
> there's local a gap in Ubuntu, and fill that gap. In our case, the gap
> was that 99% of people in our city had never heard of Ubuntu, and if
> they had, they weren't using it, and if they were they weren't aware
> that they could meet other people and help make it more fun and more useful.
>

Well, our town is heavily technology based and hence we may not fit the
Vancouver model. And even if, not everybody who has an interest in the 
*buntu community has necessarily an interest in the Vancouver model. If
you had the courtesy to read my sentence you would have noticed that I am
asking for diversity in the approach and not asking to eliminate any of them.
Only because something works for you, does not mean it works for everybody.

What I am seeing is that we have here a huge talent base in regards of technology
and coding, and sadly I have to say, there is a big gap that is not filled. 
Hence, there is a big reason to fill it, but since I have never seen you here, 
I will forgive you your false asumptions.
 
> We (UVLC) are making good progress spreading Ubuntu in our city and
> around the world. And if that requires that we occasionally raise an
> Ubuntini and toast the success of the Ubuntu project and philosophy, and
> if some people find that offensive or wish to mock or belittle us, then
> that's unfortunate. We will not stop though. Nor will we make any
> apologies for having fun while doing it.
> >

Well, nice for you, and good luck for the future. I do not see this concept 
working here for several years now, and I am ready to move on and try a different
concept that hopefully will yield better results. Fortunately, it is Open Source,
and we can fork it :-p

Ralph

> > Ralph
> Randall,
> Ubuntu Vancouver Buzz Generator
> 
> 



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