[Wylug-discuss] 'Pathetic' FLOSS Advocacy - Put it to the test?

[Dave Fisher]

On Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 10:53:10PM +0000, John Leach wrote:
> I tend to think that if less than 5 percent of wylug members are able to
> ride a unicycle, it's not unreasonable to question our capabilities as a
> circus troupe.
>
> The WYLUG webpage states that WYLUG's aim is "to offer informal help and
> guidance to GNU Linux and Open Source software users".  Maybe we're not
> good at advocacy as a group because we're not an advocacy group.

A couple of well-made points, but they don't really address the fact
that many members (possibly a majority of active members) have treated
WYLUG as an advocacy group, right from the time that it was founded.

While I don't think that anyone has ever argued that advocacy should be
its main role, I can't recall anyone ever arguing that WYLUG should not
engage in any advocacy at all.

My original point (made poorly in the context of yet whinge about
Microft's dominance of UK schools) was that if people are bothered
advocacy at all, they should make an effort to do it well.

I can't see how you can do FLOSS advocacy well, without analysing,
discussing and planning the means by which you persuade people to change
their ideas and behaviour.

> To be honest, your e-mail annoyed and upset me, and I don't know where
> to even start usefully discussing it.

Please accept my apology for any offence given. That was not my
intention.

I have no agenda (hidden or otherwise) to turn WYLUG into an advocacy
group, nor do I wish to criticise those who have no interest in
advocacy.

My basic points are these:

  1. If people aren't willing to do anything about bad stuff, they
  should stop whingeing about it when it happens (like non-voters should
  stop whingeing about politics and politicians).

  2. If they are willing to do something about, they should do it well.

  3. There is little chance of a non-profit group doing it well, if it
  doesn't measure and marshall its own human resources.

Dave