[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: Muta/meeting



On Tue, 9 Jul 1996 13:32:08 +0300 (IDT), you wrote:

>
>Let get things straight here. I don't think ANYONE, pro-amuta or
>otherwise, ever stated or ment even, that there is something wrong with
>"lurking".

First of all, I apologize to Ira and anyone else I might have
misunderstood.

> It is just that it is odd that there are 25 (or so) voters and
>180 subscribers. A vote can be a "No", not just a yes, or even a "Yes, but
>i dont have the time for it". Posting a reply-vote doesn't really take all
>that much time. In addition, I think that it is clear to all that whatever
>will happen with the amuta, Linux-il mailing list will continue to
>operate, just as befor. Even the mailing server was not moved (and rightly
>so). 

It is not odd at all. It just means most subscribers (who do read the
mail) don't care about the issue.
Anyway, I hereby vote "don't care" (petek lavan). I actually
think it would be nice if the Amuta existed, but I do not feel well
saying "Yes" and not taking part myself.

I think that voting "No" on this issue is silly. It is not the case
(as in political elections) that the results of the vote affect
everyone. Whoever wants to form an Amuta should do so. Whoever does
not want to join will not join. Voting "No" is like saying "I do not
want OTHER people to form an Amuta" - "who asked you" ? :-)
In short, this is not a case for voting, this is a case for calling
all those who want to form the Amuta to join in.

>
>Now for a totally different subject, which is your not willing to
>contribute time and/or money to promote Linux (in an amuta or any other
>way). Though I respect that aproach, and indeed, as you said, no strings
>were attached to joining the mailing list, I wish to remind you that Linux
>(and the entire GNU collection and other copylefted software) you enjoy
>using is all made up from the work of volunteers. Dont you feel you could
>spare some of your precious time to give SOMETHING, little as maybe, back? 
>Linux is not just a cool OS. Linux is an idea and a pardigm of thought 
>about sharing information and kicking back at those big and mighty 
>multinational company that make products that are so screwed up that you 
>are so happy you manage to operate them you fail to notice they are not 
>doing what you want... (eg. micro$oft). Wouldn't YOU like to be take part 
>in that? (come on, be a sport  ;-)

If you think carefully over what you said in the last paragraph, you 
will notice that there is an inherent logical flaw in the claim
"it would be nice if all Linux users did/donated something to the goal
of promoting Linux" (which is sort of a summary of what you said).
I'll explain.
A group of people created Linux so that there will be a cool free OS
around. Lets call this group (including all the current promoters,
such as yourself) Group A.
Another group of people, (I think much larger one) is the group
of plain, non promoting,  Linux users , like myself - Group B.

Now group A should be very happy that group B is large and growing.
The larger group B is, the more succesful group A are.
The growth of group B, is the actual target of group A. (I am
referring, of course, only to the promotion aspect of group A, not
other things they like, like to have fun programming).
What you are implying, is that everyone should be in Group A.
In that case, Linux will never be a cool OS anymore, it will be a
crusade, and then people will prefer Microsoft OSes beacuse they
are looking for Oses,not crusades.

All this is very similar to the positions held by some officers in
my military service past, that preached that all the "good guys"
("good guys" - anyone they thought can contribute to the army)
should Lahtom Keva. Some of these guys were cynics, but some actually
believed that ALL the "good guys" in the country should devote their
talents for the cause of the defense of Israel. They forgot that the
aim of defense
is so that most people (of all talents) will lead lives doing "normal"
things , defense was not the goal by itself.

I do feel I have to give something back, and that is the reason I
donated to the show, but it was not because I felt I should help
promote Linux but because I felt obligation to help people that helped
me.

>
>It is obveious to me you are not going to "convert", but I am hoping you 
>are going to decide that AT LEAST spending 100 shekels a year on the 
>amuta isn't that punishing.
>

Lets say I donate so and so money per year. There are causes that are
more important to me than making Linux popular. Although I agree that
MS software is technically inferior, I am not against the whole
software industry, from which I make my own living.
(BTW, I think that only in a minority of the cases, Linux is chosen
by users as an alternative to an MS OS, and if that is the goal, it
will never be reached, but I do not think many "group A" people think
of that as the goal).


--------
Moshe Cohen -- Software Development and Consultancy
17/10 Akiva St., Raanana 43260, Israel.
Tel: 972-9-989404. Fax: 972-9-420432. 
Email: moshec@netvision.net.il     URL: http://www.dezines.com/moshec/


Follow-Ups: References: