[SFD-discuss] Quick question....

[Pia Waugh]

Hi all,

<quote who="alan c">

> 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.

Actually, this made me remember something that worked really well for the
last few SFD events I've been involved in locally. We found that the term
"socially responsibly software" was a great was to start a conversation with
someone and to get them in the right frame of mind to talk about the freedom
aspects of FOSS rather than the cost. People were really intrigued about the
concept of socially responsible software as many of the people we spoke to
are quite disillusioned with technology and found this approach refreshing.

Hopefully that is helpful :)

Cheers,
Pia

-- 
OLPC Australia                                           http://olpc.org.au/
Linux Australia                                         http://linux.org.au/
Open Source Industry Australia                           http://osia.net.au/
Software Freedom Day                          http://softwarefreedomday.org/