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− | == Messaging Free Software - GNU 30th anniversary - Sept 29 2013 == | + | ==Overview== |
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− | '''What do you love about free software? (Or why do you think it's important?)''' | + | This area is for people working on how to message free software to newcomers. We're collecting existing materials that are good examples, discussing best practices for talking about free software, and working on new materials that can be used and shared by anyone. |
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− | * It's empowering, free software enables balancing power/resources access,
| + | ==Existing Materials== |
− | * Access to source code, becoming a developer and being able to learn how it works (education). Won't surveil you. Enables to DO. Came to political aspects later. * Puts people's interests above corporate interests. Allows people to build things and solve problems by themselves.
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− | * Better quality : more eyes. Control: you can improve/fix.Fixes a lot of the issues that arise from being unable to gain access to what are considered 'industrial secrets by those that may make an effort to monetize product via lock-in.
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− | * Non-free software is automatically dis-empowering: it goves lots of influence on our lives/control to who? Such controls are coded in technology. This can be tackled by free software.
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− | * Anonymity
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− | * Conversations are possible -> direct access to developers/contributors
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− | better and safer over time - encourages collaboration. Free software implies choice.
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− | you don't need permissions/budgets to get started and prototype, implement, put into production. There are still costs, much like non-free software, but initial permissions/obstacles are not hard requirements.
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− | '''What is the best way you've gotten someone else to use or care about free software?'''
| + | ==Materials to be created== |
− | * Do not be the annoying bbq guy, show by example
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− | * Find out what people's problems with their computer are and help them find solutions using free software. Ask what you can help with.
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− | * Teaching, finding people that are interested, teaching classes
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− | * Never blame users, many don't have a choice.
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− | * Don't make enemies, make allies: demonizing a technology or a user b/c of what they use will make for a veryshort conversation
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− | * Using fear: it's very clear language, related to people's feelings
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− | '''Brainstorming''' | + | For now, let's divide these materials into sub-categories, based on various common entry points to free software. |
− | * People doing social justice work. Groups working to liberation and civil society. People involved in political organizing.
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− | * Apple is worth studying, for the nuances, and the way they subtly market to different groups
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− | * Focus on Why, not the what. Why do I care? If people don't understand why to use free software, then you have to explain it.
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− | * My friend is a lawyer and a corp attorney. She uses apple, because everything works and she doesn't have to think about it. Is not having to think about it a good thing?
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− | * Picking your battles is important. My brother is a Mac User, but we share a lot of the same political beliefs. It can be very hard
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− | '''Who should we be messaging to?'''
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− | (more stars=more important/more votes)
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− | **** The people around you, family and friends parents
| + | ===Free Software Philosophy=== |
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− | *** journalists, artists, digital media makers, radio artists
| + | ===FS on the desktop=== |
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− | *** Social justice workers/activits, people organizing/working in political organizations
| + | ===Switching your operating system=== |
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− | ** Educators
| + | ===FS online=== |
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− | * People already gathering around tech, technical/other groups that depend on free software, free software user groups who don't know they are free software users. Some examples from Quebec: http://wiki.facil.qc.ca/view/Communaut%C3%A9s_d%27utilisateurs_et_de_d%C3%A9veloppeurs_de_logiciels_libres_au_Qu%C3%A9bec
| + | ==Past meetings== |
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− | Cooperatives: already organized, share the same values
| + | We have held a series of planning/working meetings at conferences in 2013 and 2014. Here are the notes from those meetings. |
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− | Librarians
| + | [[Messaging Free Software - GNU 30th anniversary - Sept 29 2013]] |
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− | * "Everybody" in different segments: simple message
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− | * policymakers
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− | "Cool" people, trendspotters/early adopters
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− | kids
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− | (Which of these are our top priorities?)
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− | **** The people around you, family and friends parents
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− | *** journalists, artists, digital media makers, radio artists
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− | *** Social justice workers/activits, people organizing/working in political organizations
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− | ** Educators
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− | * People already gathering around tech, technical/other groups that depend on free software, free software user groups who don't know they are free software users. Some examples from Quebec: http://wiki.facil.qc.ca/view/Communaut%C3%A9s_d%27utilisateurs_et_de_d%C3%A9veloppeurs_de_logiciels_libres_au_Qu%C3%A9bec
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− | '''What is the desired outcome of these conversations?'''
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− | Library computers run free software: public terminals, archives (media in open formats), staff
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− | Get ambassadors of free software in each group
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− | Legislation
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− | Increasing code/digital literacy among social justice folks - http://www.code.org/ - http://khanacademy.org/
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− | Kids learning to tinker
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− | Encourage mindful tech use
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− | More organizations committing to free software (artits, radio, media)
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− | (Using the software? An understanding of the ethics, new evangelists?)
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− | '''What do we think are the challenges to successful messaging?'''
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− | * Software has to be better, less command line. An example: converting video (ffmpeg2theora)
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− | * Corporate legal defense, in anti trust
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− | * Inertia, status-quo
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− | * Availability (or lack thereof) of pre-installed h/w
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− | * Learning curve, training
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− | * Easier technical support
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− | legal subsidies/1st one's gratis/grants with strings, Microsoft Dreamspark
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− | * Disinformation, bad PR, FUD, lobbying money
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− | * DMCA
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− | * Cross-compatibility
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− | * Finding good, working alternatives to cloud computing - an example: http://mykolab.ch
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− | * Language: using proper terminology : https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html
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− | (Assumptions, framing, etc.)
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− | * Pick your battles: some people don't know what the technology under the hood is, why should they care?
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− | '''Sticky notes placed in an impact/effort matrix exercise: (30 minutes)'''
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− | 1. Suggest activities we can undertake to improve free software messaging.
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− | Items are in order of + to -
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− | High impact + High impact
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− | develop Robust non-cloud alternatives to Adobe creative Cloud
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− | Train community radio stations on free osftwar efor on air studio
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− | Choose a political/social org and offer to host a session on installfest/free software info
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− | Design a sample high shcoll free software philosophy curriculum
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− | Propose talks to non floss users
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− | Run a Gnome newcomers tutorial
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− | Low effort, high impact
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− | Older students mentoring younger students
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− | High Impact, low effort
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− | National free osftware parent association
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− | Ask city council reps what theyre doing about FS advocacy
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− | Artists: Dynabolic workshop at hackerspace, USB key
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− | Medium impact, medium effort
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− | Local library just received grant for new computer lab: meet librarian to make the case for installing fs
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− | Make available content in free formats , upload to archive.org
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− | Encourage creatives to spread information near art ed centers
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− | Bring designers to FS
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− | Propose to atlk about FS to your kid's class
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− | Go to city council and provide opinions of FS
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− | Lower impact, medium effort
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− | Reach out to Outreach Program for Women
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− | Invite more women to be part of Media Goblin
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− | Technology bulleting board discussion for sdf.org
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− | '''2. Let people move other people's tasks around'''
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− | Next steps: (25 minutes)
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− | Who do we think we should talk to next? Key groups to make contact with?
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− | Former Google / Apple employees
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− | Larry Lessig
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− | Shared access to marketing/PR firms (via FSF?): Spitfire, Change through story, how to address the media
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− | Cory Doctorow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_doctorow
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− | Dan Cohen
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− | Yochai Benkler - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yochai_Benkler
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− | Sue Gardner - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Gardner
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− | Mike Linksvayer - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Linksvayer
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− | Gabrielle Coleman http://codingfreedom.com/
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− | Move On
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− | Noam Chomsky - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_chomski
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− | George Lakoff - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lakoff
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− | Michael Pollan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lakoff
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− | Eben Moglen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Moglen
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− | '''Would we like to stay in touch as a group? If so, how?'''
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− | Join the mailing list:
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− | * https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:LibrePlanet_Activists
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− | IRC: #libreplanet
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− | Where can we share our existing resources with each other?
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− | Mailing list
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− | In person events: let other people where we go through diaspora, mailing list, email
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− | Publish on the Wiki
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| == Links == | | == Links == |