[ubuntu-us-ma] The Free Software, Open Source promise: what FOSS means for non-coders

[Daniel Hollocher]

I'm with James on this one.  Showing the usefulness of FOSS will go a
long way.  Software should be useful, first and foremost.  I know
several several people are part of the FSF, and their whole thing is
that freedom is first and foremost, above usefulness, but I just don't
feel that way myself.  I think it is fine if you are into that, but it
is too much to expect everyone else to.

For me, the main challenge in explaining FOSS is that you also have to
explain what software is, and how it is created.  Most people just
don't want that.  Someone can always just use FOSS, and then if they
learn more about development, then they can learn more about software
freedom.

I really liked your blog post, Danny, detailing all sorts of different
software.  I think that is the direction to keep going.  I imagine
that there could be a page like that tailored for different types of
people.  It might be cool to do something directed to anime for the
Anime convention

Dan

On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 12:33 AM, Danny Piccirillo
<danny.piccirillo at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> A description plus examples of software that does not fulfil these promises.
> Basically to help a non-coder understand how the free software ideals
> actually manifest themselves.
> One promise could be, we will never restrict your ability to share this
> software.
> Examples of stuff you can't share: Windows
> On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 21:19, Martin Owens <doctormo at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> You need to define if you mean examples, description or one liners.
>>
>> I'm confused.
>>
>> On Tue, 2010-03-09 at 19:18 -0500, Danny Piccirillo wrote:
>> > Spreading the ideals of FOSS is a bit difficult when we have to
>> > explain how our tools respect freedom and why peer-review and our
>> > methods create better software. I propose that we put together a solid
>> > list of Free Software (Open Source) promises that people can expect
>> > from FOSS tools. That is, a list of things that would never happen
>> > with FOSS with examples of where it has happened with major
>> > proprietary software. Example: DRM
>> >
>> >
>> > Thoughts?
>> >
>> > --
>> > .danny
>> >
>> > ☮♥Ⓐ - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
>> > Every (in)decision matters.
>> >
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> But the philosophy *is* very important, and the people who are here because
> of it (don't underestimate that number) are the passionate ones.
> On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 21:53, James Gray <jamespgray at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> From my experience most users come to FOSS because they like the
>> software and the community not because they like the philosophy.  Even
>> a user friendly user interface takes time to learn and change usually
>> comes with resistance.  Users need a motivation to change that they
>> can get when they recognize the benefits and experience them directly
>> rather then being presented in an abstract way.
>>
>> Target your audience - if you are speaking to arty types then present
>> the multi-media compatibilities, if speaking to science folks then
>> focus on the large amount of scientific software available.  Don't
>> just talk about this software - show them.
>>
>> Just my two cents.
>
> --
> .danny
>
> ☮♥Ⓐ - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
> Every (in)decision matters.
>
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