[Sussex] Thoughts On Contrubuting to the Community

[Stephen Williams]

Well Mr Dobson you sure kicked open a Hornet's nest with this one!


On Fri, 2007-03-30 at 17:00 +0100, Steve Dobbo Dobson wrote:
> Nic
> 
> On Fri, Mar 30, 2007 at 04:18:39PM +0100, Nic James Ferrier wrote:
> > Steve Dobbo Dobson <steve at dobson.org> writes:
> > > So here is your homework from me.  You MUST reply to this email saying
> > > how you contribute, how you pay your dues, for using Linux.
> > 
> > But I have to say Steve, that I find this a bit insulting to be honest.
> 
> I'm sorry about that.
> 
> > We're not a community that normally DEMANDS things from people. 
> 
> We're not?  The GPL is full of terms that you *must* follow in order to
> use that software, (a point you make later).  If you don't consider them
> demands what are they then?
> 
> > I realize it's Friday and all but let's try and be encouraging, not
> > bullying.
> 
> That was my intent.
> 
> >           Personally, I don't wanna give anyone homework just before
> > the easter holidays.
> 
> Hence the month to do it in.  I in no way wanted to make this an onerous
> task.  My thoughts are that a month gives you time to do something and
> report on it if you can't think of anything you've already done.
> 
> You've already done much, and in many ways your post will be off putting
> to someone who can't contribute in that way.  I want to see how many
> people are helping by installing Linux on a friends computer, or their
> mum's.  In many ways those contributes are more important to get Linux
> to the masses than those of Linus T.
> 
> But I didn't want set this homework just to, say, just those that haven't
> posted to this list in the last six months, I wanted it to be as inclusive
> as possible.
> 
> >                        I'd rather they came to linux and got involved
> > coz they saw it was worthwhile not because someone told them they HAD
> > to give something back.
> 
> I don't disagree.  But that doesn't change the fact that we have nearly
> 200 e-mail addresses signed up and only a fraction post at all.  How do
> we get those that don't post to join in the fun.  My idea was to set a
> little "homework".
> 
> >                         All they HAVE to give back is the legal
> > responsibilities of the GPL and the other licences and to my knowledge
> > these are not "let's make the sussex lug a more fun and interesting
> > place".
> 
> I never said it was.  But if, by fulfilling your "legal responsibilities",
> you happen to make SLUG a more fun and interesting place isn't that a
> good thing?
> 
> Steve
> __ 
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