[NTLUG:Discuss] Open Source

[Greg Edwards]

> From: discuss-bounces at ntlug.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at ntlug.org] On
> Behalf Of Daniel Hauck


> 
> 'Spreading the Word' is an idea that is worrisome to me for some
reason
> and I think it's because it reminds me of religion.  We're talking
> about
> information technology, software and data formats that can be trusted
> and breaking vendor lock-in.  And I'm sorry to put it this way, but
> when
> F/OSS is presented as if it were a religion, people start to question
> how much of your knowledge is factual and how much is 'faith' because
> whether or not we acknowledge it directly, people associate some
things
> with other things such as "faith" and "religion" are words closely
> related just as "faith" and "facts" are related as opposites.
> 

I believe that the best way to "Spread the Word" is through education.
Most people don't know what Open Source Software is or how it works.
Ask the general non technical public and a large percentage have never
even heard the term.  Most people know about Mozilla and some know about
Firefox and Thunderbird.  Linux is a term that might be familiar to 20%
of the general user base.

The approach that this OSI (Open Source Initiative) will be taking is a
neutral position on advocacy and a positive position towards the truth.
Tell people the truth and let them decide if it's for them or not.  Just
the facts, and nothing but the facts.

--
Greg Edwards