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

[Algot Runeman]

On 03/26/2012 01:22 AM, Martin Owens wrote:
>
> 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,
>
>
90-9-1
One percent of any group are the truly active participants.
Nine percent make occasional contributions.
90 percent lurk, watch, remain connected, but don't do much as participants.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1%25_rule_%28Internet_culture%29

The 90 percent may not even say "Thank you."
In many ways, they are the customer, though. They are engaged by using 
the product of Libre Software.
They may even be very excited to be supporters of software freedom. Some 
may even tell their friends.

Getting the software for free sometimes makes people feel satisfied, but 
I also suspect that some users may also feel a bit guilty. "I didn't pay 
for this, so I can't really complain when it doesn't work just right." 
They may even say that they knew it couldn't be good because it was free.

What the 9 percent doesn't want to do is make it even more difficult for 
the 90 percent. The 9 percent might file a bug report, but also might 
spout off about the "laziness" of the 90 percent for not getting more 
involved. At best, that vocal complaining will nudge a few to get 
involved. I fear that the "fanboi" grousing makes the 90 percent less 
inclined to be involved.

On top of all of this, it must be remembered that the whole 100 percent 
of the group is a small part of the larger community. A vast majority of 
the computer-using public doesn't even know about Software Freedom. They 
aren't trying Firefox because IE or Safari is already installed. Free in 
cost doesn't matter. The proprietary software didn't cost them (even if 
it was a hidden cost, I know) money. Freedom doesn't even come into 
their thinking.

The one percent needs to persevere. The nine percent will do its best 
work by being enthusiastic, vocal and evangelistic. The 90 percent will 
benefit, as it always does. That's good.

Keep scratching your own itch as a one or a nine or a 90. Freedom 
spreads. The community supporting software freedom grows. That is a good 
thing, for sure.

As to the original question, in free software, I don't think the 90 
percent (customers) are the product for the one percent.

--Algot

-- 
-------------------------
Algot Runeman

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