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Winning with Style
A recent, well-written article appeared on newsforge that raised some issues about Freedom and Free Software and the context was something to the effect of "What's it worth to you? Are you willing to go through some sacrifices to maintain your Freedom or get it back?" I think the author is missing a valuable selling tool, one that is long term, and one that GNU/Linux has to offer. I try not to tell people it will be easy to use Free Software, or rather, easier to learn than Microsoft. Truth be known, a bit of time using Windows and beginning users learn (and have to later un-learn) quite a few hard won tricks to get things working. It's an inertia thing -- one that masses of GNU/Linux desktop adopting people will help overcome, when it's time. I think that time is fast approaching, and have said so on many recent occasions. More important, in other words, than the philosophical constructs of the Free Software movement, in my not so humble opinion, is the context of relevance. What could be more relevant to a user today than things like protection from malware, and the fact that ever-increasing attention is needed to keep a Windows box free (there's that word again) of privacy-threatening compromise.
Which do you think matters more to the user? The fact that it's Free (As in Freedom), the fact that it helps them protect their privacy, or possibly the fact that it gives them better odds of keeping the cash that's in their bank account? Maybe 2 years ago, it would be a stretch to get any of these point across, but today, I'll wager that it's easy to sell them on the second or third point easily. Worrying about whether people will ultimately drop proprietary software for their own good -- and their freedoms -- is a good thing, but it's a distraction in this context. Free Software, in other words, could not be more relevant than it is now. My point is simple, and I'll end this conversation shortly after: The average computer user simply needs to check their email and surf the web -- and this is no longer a simple venture with Microsoft products. The usefulness of a typical install today is "good enough" for what most people need to do. If they're a more advanced user, so be it, they can maintain 2 computers, they can see the value, I'll wager, in the long run. A scenario like that is better than shunning them for not holding up to your own high values. I have to work with Windows XP at work -- big fat harry deal! I treat it like an extremely sluggish, buggy device driver for Cygwin, which in the context of the type of work I do, is the cost of doing business. Anything new -- Longhorn, Service Pack 2 for Windows XP -- heck, even anti-virus software installation, is going to be fraught with new concepts for a user to learn, and software they had to leave behind. Microsoft has just released a new malware scanner. Users are going to leave behind other products to use it. I recently spoke with a PC user that had adopted XP, only to find that all of his old DOS-based games wouldn't work with it ( oh yeah, I did point him to some free alternatives, so he's not totally lost yet -- but the switch happened over a year ago). This past year, we've seen something like a 38% increase in broadband usage. I've met over a half-dozen people -- some retired -- using broadband and they're suddenly familiar with concepts that I would never have imagined them coming to grips with in the past. So keep that in mind when you're "selling" GNU/Linux. I reduce the whole Free Software speech to the phrase "It's like democracy for software." and don't get into any philosophical debates -- it's not worth it usually. The users will do the research and find out the fact for themselves. It's my not-so-humble opinion that right now, the political debates are somewhat in the way. Again, that's not to say that they're not important -- they deserve mention -- but that users have real, honest-to-goodness value just from the whole privacy and security dimensions of Free Software. When the come back (after using it, you know they'll be back, right?) you can explain the whole Free as in Freedom thing in more detail.
Keep it simple, stupid! "Yes, this is different, dear new
(or potential new) user of GNU/Linux.
But it's far safer for your personal data, and that makes it
more than worth your while learning some new programs and menus." |
|
Comments (9)
If you search on my name and the words "astroturf", you will find that the idea is quite repulsive to me...
[url=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=paul ferris astroturf&btnG=Google Search]http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=paul ferris astroturf&b...[/url]
You'll find it's something I've been battling for quite some time, actually...
--FeriCyde (Oh, yeah, FeriCyde is another name, but it's kinda clearly me...)
;)
Things have become so bad morality-wise that I can sadly understand how someone knowing neither of us could become so incredibly suspicious. Thus, it is more easy to forgive such transgressions now, than it was in the not-so-distant past. Nevertheless, I would like to forewarn Paul's accuser, and everyone else, to exercise caution whenever you are tempted to attack another person's honor. We all know that it is wrong to hurt others recklessly and without strong justification. I'm sure we have all been guilty of it. Regardless of our past sins, there is no excuse for the current one. If you are a man of honor yourself Rob, then you will do the research that you should have already done, and then give Paul the public apology that he deserves. I do not take kindly to character assinations; especially ones concerning my friends. For now, I'm not pulling out the light saber ... for now. I can be vicious when necessary, and you might find something of my temper from my history if you check.
Paul is actually... for lack of a better term... too "upright" to play games with people, as far as I know. I can and will do it, but only when I feel it is absolutely necessary -- along the lines of "the greater good - lesser of evils" philosophy. Even though Paul's assertions are strong enough to stand on their own merits; the only plausible explanation for him having astroturfing sock puppets would be to promote himself. If I (hypothetically his sock puppet) were to be manipulative, then more effective approaches would be used. This never happens with Paul; but if I were to manipulate, then frankly you'd never know or suspect it Rob. I really am that good, but usually this thing called "conscience" governs such things so that this behavior rarely happens. A good example of more effective manipulation would be for me to play Paul's enemy, and dispute him with intentionally weak arguements. Better yet... I could additionally play exposed astroturfer with reverse psychology and you'd never expect that I'm either pro-Linux or pro-Paul. Yes... Paul and I know well the games that people can and do play. However, we both are much more prone to exposing the players than giving into the temptation of playing ourselves. One of the common disagreements between Paul and me, is my contention that sometimes you must to fight them using the weapons they use -- like psychological warfare -- if you want to win.
But really, why isn't it FerriCyde?
Finally, do a Google on FeriCyde, and you find this:
ferricyanide
Click the first link (you feeling lucky, punk? :) and you get the following: Potassium Ferricyanide: Fantastic or Frustrating?
In other words, that substance has my initials -- it was too funny.
--FeriCyde
I guess we ought to move on now. It is a pity that with so many readers, so few people join the disussions.
And your point about the number of readers versus posters is valid as well. Maybe Lxers are just to shy :)
The numbers thing is indeed interesting. People are likely to jump in if the conversation excites them enough. Community building is a slow process in the beginning, but growth can become exponential at a certain point. The "original content" thing Ferris is doing might help, and perhaps other authors could jump in. Merely linking to other sites with their original stories and corresponding discussions can cause the process to be slow.
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Paul has set a good example of marketing... advocacy... whatever you label it. This down-to-earth type of piece requires more writing effort and patience from the "geeks" out there, but this sort of communication is exactly what we need -- because it is what they need. In other words, Linux failures are mainly due to our failing to reach out and expand the community -- for instance people like my father, who was a career construction professional and just wants things "to work right", do only what they are supposed to do, and cooperate.
Amen brother Paul