After reading everyone else's comments about marketing Linux to the Phoenix
metro area and looking at the catch phrases, I noticed that none of them
contained the word "freedom". IMHO, that is a hook that we can use
successfully.
I like the idea of morphing future Install Fests into something more than
"bring your computer in and let us install Linux" for you. The last Install
Fest and the next one being planned are already more than just a vanilla
install party. The demos and presentations have been and will continue to be
valuable information venues for newbies interested in Linux.
Perhaps billing future Install Fests as some sort of "freedom festival" would
be appropriate. The marketing minds can take that seed and grow it into a
name and/or a catch phrase better than I.
I regret the lack of effort being spent on making people aware of the
freedoms that GNU and Linux gives. It is time for advocates (including PLUG)
start emphasizing how restrictive licensing and monopolistic practices do
real harm - harm to every user, business, and government entity that falls
prey to the tactics of proprietary software vendors. It is time to make the
software consumers aware that they still have the freedom to make choices.
It is time to show them that the right choice (i.e. GNU and Linux) can
empower them, not constrain them.
The fact that we are now more visible (i.e. NewsForge is following our county
meeting, at least) means that we are in a position to be able to use our
abilities, knowledge, and public awareness more effectively. Now is the time
to act.
- --
Jim
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