[FM Discuss] flyer text advice
sophea
hello at phonebox.org
Mon Apr 21 15:03:49 PDT 2008
oops - i accidentally took the discussion offlist - putting it back on now...
2008/4/22 adam hyde <adam at flossmanuals.net>:
> hey
>
>
> On Sun, 2008-04-20 at 22:55 +0530, sophea wrote:
> > hiya adam
> >
> > random brainstorming follows - chuck the chaff
> >
> > you probably know the sarai publication 'floss is not just good for your teeth'
> > http://www.sarai.net/publications/occasional/floss-is-not-just-good-for-teeth
> > i think there are some good bits in there that look from the point of
> > view of the audience you are talking about - in any case it might be a
> > good reference to give for ppl who want to know more.
> >
>
> I didnt know about this actually. Its quite interesting - I especially
> like the diagram on page four of the four freedoms.
>
> 1 Users are allowed to run the software for any purpose
> 2 Users are able to closely examine and study the software and are able
> to freely modify and improve it to fill their needs better
> 3 Users are able to give copies of the software to other people to whom
> the software will be useful
> 4 Users are able to improve the software and freely distribute their
> improvements to the broader public so that they, as a whole, benefit
>
> Its sending me back to Free Software 101, but thats a good thing in this
> instance. I think these freedoms can be appealing to new users except
> 2&4 are for geeks and might put a newbie off a bit. Is it possible, or
> advisable to emphasise 1,3 + 'free' as in gratis?
>
>
>
> > i think that clear examples of common applications that can be
> > replaced is probably the most convincing - maybe give brief case
> > scenarios - this way you can include the different reasons people
> > might have.
>
> good idea...what about a chart co-relating softwares:
> ff - IE
> gimp - pshop
> inkscape - indesign
> openoffice - word
>
>
> etc...any other substitutions that would appeal to a new user (not on
> the OS level ;)?
>
>
> >
> > i don't think it's great to emphasise teh free as in $ too much as
> > using free software does usually require someone to enter into a
> > relationship with a community at some level - maybe one of the things
> > that FM does is bridge that gap between different cultures of use -
> > you can read an FM manual without knowing that RTFM doesn't mean 'read
> > the floss manual'.
>
> Do you think free software leads to engagement with a community? I am
> thinking about FF and OO....I havent ever interacted with these orgs on
> any level...i'm a fan of highlighting the community idea for attracting
> people, but i think that the communities surrounding these softwares are
> specialised and quite small...not that enticing for newbies i think...or
> am i wrong about this?
>
>
>
> >
> > think that a lot of people also don't realise that a lot of things
> > they already use are free & open software eg firefox
> > or that a lot of big business uses free software - somehow this info
> > counters people preconceptions about it as an 'amateur' activity.
> >
> > if you can present it less as a big switch than as a continuation of
> > something they already do and something that people and orgs familiar
> > to them are already doing around them - and explain why more and more
> > people/businesses/governmets are thinking this way and how FM is there
> > to help them join the crowd... maybe?
>
> good idea.
>
>
> >
> > i don't know if feeling like a pirate is such a bad thing - the same
> > ppl might be doing their bit for the digital commoning on piratebay.
> > possibly emphasise that amount of viruses and bad systems busting
> > features of cracks that using dodgy warez tends to lead to - and
> > instead of a community for support you can't get any help because you
> > hvent registered and the person who you got the thing from is
> > anonymous and the site has probably moved. using dodgy software is not
> > like watching a lousy copy of a movie if you happen to luck out on a
> > download.
>
> also a good point...
>
> Will ponder these more, thanks for the comments :) I'm wondering if
> there is a way to bring all these together:
> * the 4 freedoms (or maybe emphasise the 2 i mentioned)
> * free as in gratis
> * use case scenarios
> * continuation
> * pirate sw can be bad for your health
>
> It seems like a lot for one flyer so I am wondering if perhaps a series
> of flyers emphasising different points might be interesting. or we just
> have to focus it more in which case some kind of ordering (most -> least
> appealing) of these arguments is required...
>
> Any more thoughts from anyone on this?
>
> adam
>
>
>
> >
> > anyway - that's the 2c that came out when i pressed the button ;)
> >
> > xs
> >
> > On 20/04/2008, adam hyde <adam at flossmanuals.net> wrote:
> > > hi,
> > >
> > > I'm just putting together a flyer to explain FLOSS Manuals. It is
> > > intended for general use - at conferences, in media spaces, for
> > > workshops etc. The target audience is - people that do not know there is
> > > such a thing as free software.
> > >
> > > First on the topic of 'free' and target audience - I tend to think the
> > > emphasis should be on the _free_ as in gratis. Licensing is not
> > > necessary something that people understand the importance of straight
> > > away and it is complex to explain.
> > >
> > > Its a different rationale than the traditional free vs open source
> > > argument. For business 'free' was something they wanted to get rid of as
> > > (the argument goes) business people don't want 'free' as they believe
> > > you get what you pay for - if you pay nothing you get nothing (esp.
> > > relevant with questions regarding warranty etc). However for the desktop
> > > home user I think free is a very important word. Free, as in $, is more
> > > important (on a first glance) to these users than free as in libre.
> > >
> > > So, thats the rationale I have for a 'target' demographic - people that
> > > do not know about free software and can benefit from :
> > > * not feeling like a pirate or
> > > * saving money
> > >
> > > Just to be clear - I'm not arguing that free, as in $, is more important
> > > for the rationale of free software itself, but that the $ angle is a
> > > stronger marketing position when speaking to people that know nothing
> > > (or little) about free software.
> > >
> > > On the other side of this is the point that 'free software' in these
> > > terms can sound like a tacky sales pitch for bad 'special bin'
> > > merchandise. So...I am struggling with this line and would appreciate
> > > any suggestions on how to walk it.
> > >
> > > As for the design (Lotte will create a design) - I am imagining
> > > something with 4 panels. A front page and 3 fold out panels for
> > > read/write/remix. The design will use icons if we can develop some nice
> > > explanatory icons for the concepts.
> > >
> > > So, the first thing to get right is the text. I have made one stab at it
> > > (below).
> > >
> > > I would appreciate any advice on the direction, rationale, and tone of
> > > this.
> > >
> > >
> > > ===================
> > > * front panel*
> > > Did you know there are hundreds of softwares for Mac, Windows and Linux
> > > that are made by communities of programmers for you to use – for free.
> > >
> > > FLOSS Manuals provides free manuals where to get and how to use free
> > > software.
> > > http://www.flossmanuals.net
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > * proceeding panels*
> > > READ
> > > http://www.flossmanuals.net/read
> > > Learn to use free software for word processing, browsing, audio and
> > > video production, image manipulation, file sharing, creating vector
> > > graphics, desktop publishing, 3d graphics, creating webpages and more!
> > > Read manuals online or download each as a PDF. All manuals are free to
> > > use and distribute.
> > >
> > >
> > > WRITE
> > > http://www.flossmanuals.net/write
> > > If you know something about free software you can contribute to and
> > > improve the manuals! You don't need to learn complex wiki syntax –
> > > instead you can make changes online as if you were using a word
> > > processor. If you have ever wanted to contribute to the world of free
> > > software but are not a programmer then contribute to FLOSS Manuals!
> > >
> > >
> > > REMIX
> > > http://www.flossmanuals.net/remix
> > > Make your own manual for inhouse training, teaching, workshops or self
> > > learning. Drag and drop chapters from the manuals using REMIX to create
> > > and download a PDF, HTML (in a zip or tar file), or embed the manual in
> > > your website with our 'Live Manual' API.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Adam Hyde
> > > FLOSS Manuals
> > >
> > > http://www.flossmanuals.net
> > > + 31 6 2808 7108
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Discuss mailing list
> > > Discuss at lists.flossmanuals.net
> > > http://lists.flossmanuals.net/listinfo.cgi/discuss-flossmanuals.net
> > >
> >
> >
> --
> Adam Hyde
> FLOSS Manuals
>
> http://www.flossmanuals.net
> + 31 6 2808 7108
>
>
--
sophea lerner
sonic media artist + researcher
new delhi, india
hello at phonebox.org
mob: +91 9910617449
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