OT: Linux - Stop holding our kids back

[Joshua Zeidner]

On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 2:29 PM, James Mcphee <jmcphe at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hmm...  Whether or not the story is real doesn't really affect us one way or
> the other.

  sure it does.  If it is believed that we need to resort to
fabricating evidence in order to make our claims, that puts everyone
who uses OSS in a bad light.  -jmz

> I believe we can all agree that the action taken in this
> possibly fictitious account is not a good example of how to advance the FOSS
> cause.
>
> In the discussion, though, it seems that people have seen problems with
> educators needing educating about the alternatives to MS.  Does anyone know
> any good material that doesn't speak down to the lay-person?  I've found
> that most people, and cash-strapped educators particularly, are open to new
> information if presented in a non-threatening and non-confrontational
> manner.
>
> MS dumps billions into advertising with little to counter it.  It's no
> wonder the average joe/jane has a skewed perception of history and their
> current options.  I think having a simple response to someone spouting the
> MS tagline would be beneficial to the cause.  Something like "Please visit
> intelligent-sounding-site-name.com if you want to hear the other side of the
> story."  I've looked a bit, and most of the FOSS propoganda can best be
> described as erudite and at worst, rabid.  Does anyone know of a good site
> that can be referenced to ejumacate folks?
>
> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 1:55 PM, Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 1:48 PM, Lisa Kachold <lisakachold at obnosis.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:31:27 -0700
>> >> From: jjzeidner at gmail.com
>> >> To: plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
>> >> Subject: Re: OT: Linux - Stop holding our kids back
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 12:22 PM, Alex Dean <alex at crackpot.org> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > On Dec 10, 2008, at 11:16 AM, Joshua Zeidner wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 10:47 AM, Mike Hoy <mhoy06 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> >>>>
>> >> >>>> Personally I believe that this blog is false. I think it was made
>> >> >>>> up
>> >> >>>> just to spark a FOSS/MS debate, just like this one we're having
>> >> >>>> now!
>> >> >>>> :)
>> >> >>>> Just smells a little fishy to me...
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> I was thinking the exact same thing.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Same here... the story seems very fabricated.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Could be. But the "believe me because you're dumber than me" attitude
>> >> > that
>> >> > the blogger takes toward this teacher (fictional or no) is quite
>> >> > real,
>> >> > and a
>> >> > problem that many of us suffer from.
>> >>
>> >> well that does contribute to my opinion... seems like hes creating
>> >> this effigy of the evil anti-OSS person and then tearing her apart.
>> >> The whole thing just seems generally like a stupid scheme concocted by
>> >> some sophomoric linux user. Note that there are no sources, no real
>> >> names, what looks like some kind of institutional name (but you can't
>> >> make out what it is). Ive seen totally false stories like this
>> >> propagate through the net, so I have my doubts.
>> >>
>> >> -jmz
>> >>
>> >> >
>> >> > I think it's a barrier to spreading free software when its advocates
>> >> > are
>> >> > poor at making a point non-technical people will understand and
>> >> > relate
>> >> > to.
>> >> > That was the point of my initial comment, and I think valid
>> >> > regardless
>> >> > of
>> >> > the underlying facts of this particular story. Don't tell people why
>> >> > they're wrong/misguided/stupid. It only turns people off. Focus on
>> >> > what's
>> >> > good about what you're doing, not what's bad about what they're
>> >> > doing.
>> >> >
>> >> > alex
>> >> >
>> >
>> > Yes it's an urban anti-technology myth, cleverly posted here by trolls!
>>
>>  awesome picture.  I wonder if those things are genetically related to
>> Furbys.
>>
>>  an interesting thing I've noticed in recent years is that 'troll'
>> has come to be used interchangeably with 'someone who doesnt agree
>> with me'.
>>
>>  -jmz
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>
>
> --
> James McPhee
> jmcphe at gmail.com
>
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