There is No Open Source Community

porkrind writes "There is no Open Source Community is an Onlamp article about the economics of open source and how most people get it wrong. Really, open source is much more about supply and demand than it is about an activist community or individual drivers (individuals or individual companies) affecting change on society." From the article: "Taking the position that individuals have pushed open source forward leads to the conclusion that a core group of ideological 'believers' is necessary for the continued success of open source software. Businesses unaware of the falsehood of this claim are too afraid of running afoul of the 'open source community' and sometimes make decisions that are not in their financial interests. Both open source-based and proprietary software vendors need to challenge these assumptions."

Comments

Oh, come on, he's not a Troll!

[eldavojohn]

Now, I know the initial reaction to this Anonymous Coward post is that he's a "Troll."

But I beg you not to mod him as this, I see him as a poor misunderstood individual.

His accusation was valid to make (though horrendously false). Let's examine some better delivery methods:

1) I disagree, sir.
2) Frau Farbissina: LIES! ALL LIES!
2) I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.

And so you see, Anonymous Coward, you had a good underlying message, you just delivered it wrong. And you were so close to a +5 funny or +5 interesting mod!

*pats AC on the head* In time, young padawan.

"community"

[Orp]

I am sick of that term being thrown around by journalists, politicians and the like. A fine example is "The Gay And Lesbian Community". It's like, just because you're gay, you are suddenly the member of some really nifty group where you are magically surrounded by other gay people, being invited to gay potlucks and such, going to gay community-building meetings, babysitting each other's adopted children, walking gaily hand in hand, building your "community" with gay politicians, gay policement, grocers, teachers etc. Look at me!! I'm in a community! Isn't that special!

Wait, I just described San Francisco. Never mind.