Alan,

I've been in your shoes more times than I care to remember.  I've always 
found that I can get the point across by comparing the internet and a 
computer's interface to something that the person is familiar with, such 
as a car.

The road is like the internet, and the programs that show up on the 
computer are like the parts in your car.  The hard drive and cpu are 
like the engine and transmission, while you control the vehicle with a 
keyboard and mouse (steering wheel and stick/gear selector);  the gas 
you put in your car is like the software that you are using to surf the 
internet.  Without a fuel pump, the car does not operate and you can't 
see street signs and buildings go by.  Without a Web Browser, you can't 
see a web site, such as http://www.google.com, but you can still check 
your email with Outlook, which requires an internet connection.  No gas, 
no drive.  No internet connection, no virtual communication.

Everyone I've explained that to has understood it.  Sometimes you need 
to find something else that they understand and relate it that way.

-Scott

Alan Dayley wrote:
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> I always thought I understood that average people were somewhat ignorant
> about the Internet, what it is, etc.  Then I was shocked into the
> reality this Sunday.
>
> I was showing the funny GetFirefox commercials to my visiting extended
> family when the following conversation between my sister-in-law, my
> mother-in-law (both reasonably intelligent) and myself occurred:
>
> Mother: What is Firefox? Is that an Internet service?
> Sister (before I could answer): Firefox is like AOL or MSN.COM, right?
> Mother: Oh, so you go on the Internet and visit there. We have cable
> Internet at home. Can we get Firefox there?
> Me: Firefox is a web browser not a service. Like Internet Explorer is a
> browser.
> Sister: So it IS like AOL.
> Mother: But can I get it through cable?
>
> I was dumbfounded that two normal people had no concept what a browser
> was.  I didn't feel like starting an Internet 101 class at that moment,
> nor did we have the time, so I dropped it.
>
> How can Firefox, for example, sell itself to people who think it is an
> ISP? We FS/OSS advocates have a lot education to do before people even
> understand what the choice IS, let alone that they have one!
>
> Alan
>
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