[SFD-discuss] Quick question....

[alan c]

Guido Arnold wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> 2008/5/29, Arron M Finnon <afinnon at googlemail.com>:
>> One of our other members thinks we can't do that because Linux Mint
>> comes with Proprietary media codecs.
> 
> I'm on his side.
> 
>> (...) my views is that
>> workshops and discussion groups on why using free-codecs is better than
>> using proprietary-codecs i think is a great idea.
> 
> I think so too.
> 
>> Sort of advertising
>> alternatives, rather than saying YOU CAN'T USE THAT
>>
> I'd rather say "It's _possible_ to use that, but that's not what free
> software is all about."
> If we continue to accept proprietary software/codecs, we'll end up
> with the same problems we have today.
> 
>> I have the nasty thought that we have all of these potential new users,
>> who the minute they go to play their music or videos sit there and say
>> "well free software is good but you can't play stuff i'll just boot back
>> in to windows"
> 
> In my view, the SFD is the perfect opportunity to teach people exactly
> that proprietary formats/codecs already make them dependent on one
> vendor's mercy. If they continue to use them, they don't really gain
> freedom and don't exert their market power to push vendors to open
> standards.

Your points are good ones, however, the continuing use of the word 
'Free' rather than Freedom or Libre causes a lot of confusion to 
passers by. If you can get anyone to accept any popular live CD and 
leaflet you are doing very well. To actually get them to *use* it when 
they get home tired, even better! To differentiate between the concept 
of free of monetary cost and freedom itself, that is a tough one. If 
you can get anyone passing by to accept a CD on the basis that it 
bestows 'freedom' you will be doing amazingly well.

In fact at my regular information FOSS displays at my local computer 
fairs I always have headline poster references to 'Freedom from being 
Locked in?' And I use 'Freedom Software' as one poster. And I think it 
does have an effect. But my customers are regulars - I have been there 
a couple of years now.

A question - what will the volunteer who likes Mint do on SFDay? Will 
he still be attending if he cannot do what he obviously feels 
passionate about? Denying the use of Mint might end up loosing you an 
energetic helper?   A bit pyrrhic maybe?
-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391