[ubuntu-us-ma] Fwd from [Wlug]

[Martin Owens]

On Sun, 2012-03-25 at 21:02 -0400, Aaron Haviland wrote:
> Oooh, this is a good question...
> 
> ----- Begin forwarded message -----
> 
> From: Keith Wright
> To: [Wlug] wlug at mail.wlug.org
> Subject: Re: [Wlug] Invitation to connect on LinkedIn
> 
> > If what you are getting online is for free, you are
> > not the customer, you are the product. -Jonathan
> > Zittrain, professor of Internet law (b.  1969)
> 
> Essay question 1: How does this aphorism
> apply to getting Linux for free? 

You are not the customer, you are the non-involved party and/or possible
co-producer/supplier. ;-) Basically your relationship can fall into
three groups with any FOSS project:

 * Builder - Make or fund code to be made. (+qa/dx/doc)
 * Watcher - Use what's made but get no say.
 * Advocate - Support and promote more watchers and builders to join in.

Only builders get to have a say in the direction of the project, both
economically speaking and generally most projects work like that
politically too.

I'd love to see more people become builders buy paying for Free Software
and fewer watchers.

Martin,