[H-GEN] Software Freedom Day

Russell Stuart russell-humbug at stuart.id.au
Tue Jul 10 00:47:57 EDT 2007


On Tue, 2007-07-10 at 13:54 +1000, Anthony Irwin wrote:
> If no one else is willing to do it then I would seriously consider it 
> providing I can get information from people who did it in the past 
> like where they held it previously and how they thought it went and 
> recommendations in general from people who attended on what they feel 
> is required or could be done better.

Re people who have done it before: that would be me.  
I am old, and I don't remember much.  The wiki page 
we were using to organise ourselves had heaps of 
information, but the wiki archives don't go back to 
2005 it seems.

My report is still around however:
  http://lists.humbug.org.au/archives/general/2005-September/025357.html

> Obviously this also assumes that a couple of people are willing to 
> help with the stand. I am willing to help on the 15th of September 
> with a stand if needs be but not willing to do the whole stand by myself.

If you organise it in an open way (ie so the 
membership can see what you are doing and what 
is needed) your problem will be having too many
people, not too few.  

> Also willing to bring a couple of laptops on the day for people to see 
> a gnu/linux distro probably Ubuntu as it seems like the most user 
> friendly these days.

The only problem you will have re computers brought by
Humbug members is that they won't all fit on the stand.

What you do need is:

  - Pamphlets explaining and promoting:
    . Open Source, and Humbug.
    . How the share alike licenses work (eg GPL).

  - CD's you can give away.  Ubuntu is good, but Open
    Source Windows stuff is better.  (You need both).
    See the report for numbers.

  - Flashy posters and/or a large monitor with lots of
    bling to suck people in.

  - If you want to demonstrate open source operating
    systems install Compviz/Beryl and learn how to 
    use it!

  - People who can put on a sales persona.  Ie, be able
    to engage people, pick up the cues they send out
    about what interests them, and be able to explain
    these things in simple language.  This isn't hard,
    anyone can do it.  But it isn't optional either.
    Standing behind the counter mumbling into your shoes
    about how wonderful Ubuntu is to someone who doesn't
    know what free software is doesn't help.  Your major 
    problem won't be convincing people the software 
    exists - it will be convincing people it isn't all a 
    con job.  So explaining how GPL works isn't the 
    problem.  Convincing them there are 1000's of people
    out there who support the GPL with their volunteer time
    and effort to produce free software is the problem!

  - Finally: realise what we (Humbug) have to offer.  
    Computers are very daunting to most people out there.
    To learn how to do something (like edit a picture),
    or fix the thing once its been malwared they can
    either ask the neighbour (who won't know much more
    that they do), or take it to the local computer shop
    will sell them something - perhaps a Windows re-install.
    At Humbug they have access to some of the top computer 
    people in the state, and people who are keen not only 
    to help them out with old things but introduce them to
    new ones - all for free!  It is the deal of the 
    century - point it out whenever you have a chance.
    All they have to do is embrace the open source culture.





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