On Mon, 2006-09-25 at 17:55 +0100, Shane M. Coughlan wrote:
Given that everyone is taking about why Free Software (and our new license) is a good idea...perhaps it's worth bringing up the fellowship conference that is going to happen shortly in Italy!
Yep, talking about Free Software is what we all like to do :) But there is a strong need to talk to others that never heard of 'free software' except from spam messages.
As a coincidence yesterday a Italian friend wrote to me announcing his new book "The Family Guide to Digital Freedom" and website http://digifreedom.net/. His book is not free-as-in-freedom neither is completely public, but from what I saw his web site and collection of essays have enough 'meat' to contribute to a discussion on 'how to effectively advocate Free Software to moms and dads and kids'. His language is provocative and sometimes confused, but it's worth reading it because I agree with him: the average rhetoric of FS advocates is not effective when pointed to average computer users.
As you may (or may not) know there is going to be a conference in Italy in November that will provide an excellent opportunity for everyone in the fellowship to sit down together and have a discussion. There are so many things to talk about. Right off the top of my head: (1) Positive advocacy and how do to it effectively
Fioretti has done a nice essay titled 'Seven Things We're Tired To Hear
From Software Hackers'. I don't agree with most of the points he makes,
but indeed we can learn something from that essay and draw inspiration. For example, it would probably be useful to have a list of things that should be important for average people, voters and citizens that don't use computers or high school students. Maybe we should invite professors to the this discussion and listen to their experiences, what do you think?
bye stef