[SLUG] Library display

[john at johnallsopp.co.uk]

> Hi Folks,
>
> John Allsopp wrote:
> --%<--
>>
>> So the discussion I want to have is this. What is our main theme?
>>
>> Are we a Linux support group for people who know what Linux is?
>> A phrase that works for that might be simply 'Scarborough Linux User
>> Group', since those people would know what a LUG does.
>>
>> Are we trying to help people convert to Linux from Windows?
>> A phrase that works for that might be 'Free software that works', or
>> maybe that sounds like we're giving away one program, perhaps 'A
>> world
>> of free software'.
>>
>> Are we more about the whole Open Source / Free Software movement?
>> A phrase that works for that might be 'Software freedom'
>
> All of the above. ;)  Not that helpful perhaps, but I can't see how
> narrowing down the target audience for the display as being helpful to
> increasing the groups size.

Aye, you're probably right.

Am I missing any targets?

> My suggestion for this would be:
>
> 		      Scarborough Linux User Group
> 		Free/Open Source Software for everyone!

Yeah, that works. Without the exclamation mark, but other than that.
Any other comments anyone?

> I've alwasy felt the group is for those using F/OSS and to help people
> interested to become F/OSS users.  Despite my dislike for MS products
> I
> feel that a deliberate targeting of their users is a negative and
> anti-free thinking policy.

Aye. The Software Freedom Day organisers pack precludes it too.

> So many of them are ready for something
> else
> (just stand on an InfoPoint stand for an hour to see what I mean!)

a what?

> that
> just offering a viable alternative is enough.¹
>
>> Once we've decided on our main theme, that leads on to things like
>> graphic design standards. For instance, there's a good chance we
>> should probably standardise on the Tux colours for everything we do,
>> and perhaps we can use Tux in a standard way, along with a standard
>> form for  Scarborough Linux User Group. Font size, colours, margins
>> and all that need to be standardised so that people know when
>> they've
>> got something from us, and they need to be chosen to reflect our
>> goals. The page layout for a 'freedom' organisation would be
>> different
>> to that for a support group.
>
> My only suggestion/request here is that there be no use of 'MS Comic
> Sans' on anything.  I know it's popular, but to me it always looks as
> if
> the author hasn't learn't to do joined up writing!

I wouldn't. Anyway, it starts "MS", I don't think many in the group
would be impressed.

>> Thoughts anyone?
>>
>> J
>
>
> ¹ This leads me to something which has frequently worries me when talk
> of getting new users raises itself.
>
> In the event of having an information board at the library, someone
> contacts the group asking to have a distro installed either as dual
> boot
> or as a single install.  Who within the group has sufficient
> confidence/knowledge to go to someones house and do this?  Or do we
> suggest that an interested person take a set of discs and attempt to
> install it themselves?  I see the second option as a recipe for
> failure
> and another anti-linux MS devote.

Last time we discussed this I think Steve felt confident enough to do
that. I was thinking along the lines of getting them to back up their
system before we do anything, and then maybe even getting them to sign
something acknowledging that, basically, we are interested amateurs
and you can't sue the person wot did it. Probably going too far, but
considering we'd be doing it for free it's probably the only way I'd
be prepared to work, personally.

Also .. go to someone's house? I think this is why there are install
days. At someone's house you can be accused of stealing, of sexual
harassment .. anything could happen. There's no history of dealing
with the person we're visiting. It's one thing turning up as the gas
man, an employee with all your insurance and everything, it's quite
another being part of an amateur group. I'm definitely overstating the
problem, but for me it would be an issue. The risk may be small, but
the impact of an accusation like that would be large.

An installation at a group meeting would also benefit from the
community mind .. if the installer gets stuck they could shout for
suggestions from the group.

J