Re: Introduction

> Are there any tips or suggestions for more effectively 
> advocating Free Software to non-profits?

Yes, here's my number 1 tip:

Please, for the love of all that is good and decent, open 
source developers and advocates need to cease and desist 
immediately with the collapsing of the open source universe 
into a single point, and recognize that the benefits of
open source are dependent on a number of factors which are 
usually outside the perception range of those immersed in
it (i.e., with their heads up their asses).

1. The server is NOT the desktop. No matter how good Unix 
and Linux are on the server side that doesn't make them 
worth shit on the desktop, yet. When Linux and KDE/Gnome 
work as well or better than Mac OS X for the NON-TECHNICAL 
END-USER, then you can brag. Until then, when explaining 
open source to non-techies and especially non-profits, 
please be clear that much of the glory of open source is due 
to it's achievements on the server and not the desktop. Stop 
trying to be a Corporate Madison Avenue style shill and be 
clear about that difference. Tell people the truth and let 
them make up their own minds.

2. Open Source is NOT Linux. Please stop trying to force 
people to change their operating system every time and allow 
them the opportunity to experience open source solutions on 
Mac, Windows, and other platforms. The greatest damage done 
to the cause of open source is the FUD that has been spread 
by well-meaning but misguided people who have poor 
communications skills, and only know how to talk about FLOSS 
in the context of a complete operating system changeover. 
This is pathetic and it must come to an immediate stop. The 
way that open source will win hearts and minds and achieve 
critical mass is when essential applications that are easy 
to use become ubiquitous on platforms other than Linux and 
BSD. Stop masturbating over Linux and recognize that the OS 
is secondary to what most people care about.

3. Free does NOT mean Free. Stop leaning on the idea of open 
source software as being low-cost or free as being it's main 
selling point. While that applies in a very surface sense, a 
lot of hard work and labor goes into the production of open 
source software and if we want to look into the future, I'm 
talking about 30+ years from now, we need to recognize that 
the sustainability of open source can't rest on some sort of 
magical and inane conceptualization of cheap pricing. Stop 
the WalMartization and Americanization of open source 
production. American Capitalism loves to promote cheap 
products, but it tries to hide the actual oppressive 
anti-worker labor practices that get us those cheap 
products. That's why Imperialism is making a comeback, 
because people in their SUVs want cheap gas. Enough! People 
need to understand what the cost of open source labor is and 
they need to appreciate that, even if they aren't paying for 
it directly in dollars. Folks who don't code need to be 
encouraged to give money or other support whenever they can, 
not because they have to, but because it's the right and 
sustainable thing to do.

4. Technology is NOT politics. Please stop mixing up and 
conflating two distinct and separate issues around open 
source: political/social philosophy vs. technical 
superiority/production process. I am sick and tired of 
people who seem to be unable to clearly lay out the 
arguments for open source along those two axises, without 
tripping over their tongue and throwing the two together. 
Not everyone is going to be won over to FLOSS for the same 
reasons and you need to learn how to communicate to 
non-nerds the different aspects of FLOSS so that they can 
then connect with the part that most clearly resonates with 
them. For some, the ideas of intellectual freedom and 
sharing are what will bring them over to FLOSS. For others, 
it will be purely a decision of technical superiority or 
ease-of-use that wins them over. However, unless you can 
clearly and concisely map out the FLOSS landscape, which few 
seem to be able to do, you only end up sowing more FUD. Some 
will say you can do both or that the two are inseparable, 
but I strongly disagree. It's not about what YOU think, it's 
about being able to communicate ideas to others so that they 
can make their own decisions. When talking about the 
non-profit world in particular, we need to get our act 
together in how we communicate the concepts of FLOSS to 
those not already a part of the community.

I'm off the soapbox.


Art McGee
Principal Consultant
Virtual Identity
Communications+Media+Technology
1-510-967-9381