Re: [native-lang] Sweden redux....

Hi Lars!

On 2009-12-18, at 07:54 , Lars Nooden wrote:

> [changing the sequence of the paragraphs]
>> So, let's start from the basics: Where are the Swedish community
>> members?
> 
> As I mentioned over a year ago, I would not be active for a while and I
> haven't been.  At work, maneuvering around a heavy anti-foss campaign,
> which picked up steam in summer 2008, was using too much of my time.
> The campaign turned increasingly petty and vindictive.  (e.g. blocking
> IMAPS at the firewall starting from shortly after my lecture on it.)

Yes, I know, and I by no means was putting the burden on you to maintain the effort!

I think we all appreciate that which you have been able to do.

> 
> I have not even had time to stay in contact with Per over this year.
> 
> Louis Suarez-Potts wrote:
>> I'm concerned about the Swedish language group and for that matter,
>> the OOo advocates and OOo members in Sweden. There are numerous
>> activities going on and there are also quite a few businesses
>> interested in or engaged with Foss and even OOo. ODF is also big
>> there. But none of these factors has seemingly been sufficient to
>> form a sustainable OOo commons or community, and so I'm concerned.
> 
> If we speak for a few hours I can offer observations and experiences.
> But IMHO much of it boils down to cultural characteristics and the
> political / social problems cultivated since 1993 or so.  There are some
> infrastructural problems created then, manifesting now.

So I have learned from you and others....

> 
>> I've suggested before to Leif (DA), Martin (NO) and others the idea
>> of a pan-Nordic language/regional group. That may be a solution, but
>> it, like everything else, needs to be driven to succeed.
> 
> I've been in favor of that.  The driving needs face time.  That's how
> things work.

Yes.

> 
>> What is the state of health of the community there? 
> 
> The backbone of Swedish industry and commerce, the polytechnics, were
> eliminated and replaced with other institutions with dissimilar goals
> and methods.  Some of that applies also to the two original
> universities, at least in regards to course content and teaching
> environments.
> 
> However, there are some really skilled people scattered about the
> country.  If a consensus regarding a goal can be achieved within that
> diaspora of skilled people then things will take care of themselves
> after that.
> 
>> And can we look to forming such a pan-Nordic group?
> 
> I would say, as I said before, "yes" to that.
> 

I will bring in the Norwegian group, for where we last ended this particular discussion was in forming such a pan-Nordic regional group, and I thought of Martin Hauge as the principal within it, with Leif and other representatives, such as Per, joining in for specific events. One could look to any number of large-scale events related to foss that occur in Sweden and Norway as consolidating meet-ups.

> /Lars


best
louis