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[June Tate]

I just recently found Ubuntu via Slashdot and decided to give it a
whirl. Even with the few showstopper bugs I've found on my laptop and
desktop computers, though, I absolutely love the distribution. Since
I've been dealing with a few hospital issues lately and was unable to do
an upgrade earlier this morning, I just couldn't understand what all the
fervor was about -- so I decided to do a little bit of dist-upgrading on
my desktop when I got back.

A few minutes ago it finished and I promptly died laughing.

For one thing I can understand the idea for using humans as a symbol for
goodwill, and for another the use of nudity is okay for artistic
expression. Unfortunately, for a distribution that is looking to move
into corporate enterprise and be adopted into other such environments,
such imagery is in bad taste.

After catching my breath, I decided to bring in my Mom -- who so
happened to be the computer director for the Issac school district and
for Lamson College here in Phoenix, AZ for most of her life -- and have
her take a look at it from a corporate standpoint. Her response was that
the choice in imagery was "just sick" and that unless it was changed,
the distribution "wouldn't make it into the corporate enterprise." Now
keep in mind, she does have a little bit more of a conservative mindset
with regards to art and nudity since she grew up in the 50s and early
60s, but by the same token so do most of the higher up corporate execs
-- they're both part of the same generation and grew up (generally) with
the same moral values.

Perhaps in Africa this isn't the same view -- I've never been outside of
the US, so I can't really say, but I imagine that Canonical wouldn't
have chosen something that did not go with the culture that they deal
with every day. Unfortunately, when it's brought out into the global
view (as so much Open Source software is), it tends to bring problems. I
would liken this to Gerber's folly[1] of using their corporate logo on
baby food in Africa -- it's a kind of culture shock and will ultimately
destroy the distribution's viability to corporations.

I do hope that Canonical rethinks the position on this artwork.
Artistically I think it's overall very well done, but unfortunately it
doesn't quite fit with Ubuntu's goals. Besides, I can't see recommending
this (in its current form) to my managers at work without embarrassing
myself or them in the process -- partial nudity does not equate with
professionalism.

--
June Tate * june at theonelab.com * http://www.theonelab.com

1. For those who don't know about the Gerber story, African goods are
often labeled with pictures of the contents instead of words -- as a
result, people thought the cans of baby food were in fact cans of
babies!

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