[Lumiera] Open Source Anarchy

[Aaron Newcomb]

OK. Since you took up this topic Let me clarify this once and for all.
Let's drop the terms "marketing" and "anarchy" since they are clearly
seen differently by different people. Here are two points I would like
to get across without using those terms.

1) FOSS projects should not shy away from active promotion; whether
that be blog posts, twitter feeds, conference talks, or other forms of
communication. These tools can be used to generate more interest,
developers, users.
2) FOSS projects should not be run in a state of confusion, chaos and
disorder: They should be run in an organized way that promotes
inclusion and gives everyone a chance to participate in some way
(developer, user, organizer, etc).

There. That's it. That's what I believe. I hope I have expressed it
more clearly. Feel free to disagree if you so choose or add your own
opinions.

On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 6:52 PM, Ichthyostega <prg at ichthyostega.de> wrote:
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> Aaron Newcomb schrieb:
>> Sounds like we are getting hung up in semantics for the most part.
>
> that's true, and certainly due to the mental mists and mystifications
> spread by "business is everything" believers since at least the 90ties.
>
> But it is important to stand up and help to exorcise this evil spirit
>
> Business is *one* activity we humans can engage into,
> but it is something different than the nature of life.
>
>
>> I sincerely hope your view of FOSS as anarchy is not shared by the wider
>> community. Otherwise we are all in trouble.
>
>
> Hi Aaron,
>
> as far as I can see, there anarchical nature of open source is widely
> recognised. To stress this point: that's certainly not a question of
> opinion (i.e. a subjective twist of someone, which can be ignored),
> but it is a matter of recognising the *nature* of something that
> exists in our common world (here: open source).
>
> Certainly not everyone appreciates this nature of the open source
> movements. Some just see them as a means of distributing software.
> Some even try to abuse it as a vehicle of so called "viral marketing"
>
>
> Speaking here as one of those who really make open source work and go
> round (as a developer, that is): It is important that we keep the
> distinctions clear -- not just a matter of bla bla
>
> If we exchange ideas, ideals and know-how, if we cooperate and
> get together, then this is *not marketing*
>
> mind me: THIS IS NOT MARKETING
>
> we don't need marketing.
> we don't want to sell the people's souls. Marketing guys usually want.
> They want to implant false and misleading ideas and understanding
> into the heads and hearts of a consuming mass, so everyone believes
> you need Big Co's products in order to be happy.
>
> To my own experience, often this happens half-consciously to these folks,
> or it is accepted as a sort of collateral damage. Because, obviously the
> focus is to sell a specific product or set of products. But to get ahead
> with that, you need to spread the impression that there is a necessary
> connection between "using a product" and "getting things done".
>
> This latter connection is kind like a sub-text, which is present in
> pretty much every output of the marketing industry.
>
>
> Now, realising this isn't off-topic here. I'll tell you why.
> As a direct offspring of that undertaking, there is the notion that
> the shiny polished surface of a product is superior, more professional,
> more adequate than the often "dusty and messy" nature of a real tool.
>
> This is a lie. It is important, to "open the box". It is important
> to figure out and understand how things work. Both practically and
> politically. Even grandma can do that.
>
> Cheers,
> Hermann Vosseler
> aka "Ichthyo"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Thanks,
Aaron Newcomb
http://www.thesourceshow.org