Taking Free Software To the Streets

An anonymous reader writes "It's that time of year again; the nights are drawing in, the leaves are beginning to turn, and literally hundreds of teams of dedicated F/OSS enthusiasts from around the world are preparing to hit the streets in celebration of Software Freedom Day 2009. In an effort to increase awareness of free and open source software among the general public, SFD teams will be standing around town centers and shopping malls, holding talks at schools and universities, giving demonstrations and handing out Linux and FOSS collections for Windows on CD. With money being tight and paranoia about malware and viruses at an all-time high, the time is right to help consumers switch to the myriad of quality open source applications available. If you would like to check for an SFD team in your area and consider attending, be it to help out or simply learn more about free software for yourself, there's an interactive map to help you find your way."

Comments

"Go away"

[Anonymous Coward]

"Go away" is my reaction whenever someone on the street wants to give me something free - a religious booklet, a pro-something leaflet, a "work from home" job offer printed out on an inkjet...

On a sidenote, this would be a perfect opportunity to spread malware. Just pretend you're one of those guys and hand over CDs with some crap that will infect the computer.

Re:"Go away"

[Yvan256]

On a sidenote, this would be a perfect opportunity to spread malware. Just pretend you're one of those guys and hand over CDs with some crap that will infect the computer.

I thought giving away copies of Windows ME was illegal?

Re:"Go away"

[maxume]

For extra points, yell "I DON'T KNOW YOU!" and "GIVE ME BACK MY PURSE!"

Re:"Go away"

[Hurricane78]

I'd recommend changing your reaction to "you're doing it wrong!".

Because the trick is not, to come to you. The trick is, to make you come to them, and offer something so great, that you'll beg to get it. ^^

I recommend putting up a large projection of Compiz an action, giant "Never get Viruses again!" banners, etc.
Make them drool and wish to throw away their Windows.
And give away the Linux DVDs in a "Shop price: $xxx" "Get a free copy! Only today!" booth.
Play music! Add some lights! (But in a way that also drags older people there.)
Offer tasty food that you can smell on the whole street, drinks, sexy babes/men on two elevated platforms, friendly people (to fulfill our basic needs/interests).
Sell merchandising that people can afford to buy just out of impulse and for fun! Stickers, T-Shirts, things you can't get anywhere else.
And add a Linux DVD / open source software DVD to every sale of anything on that booth. Let the sexy people throw the DVDs into the people.
And do it in a place and at a time, where there are enough people to make it work. If nessecary, work out a deal with a local shopping mall, or something similar.

That will give you hype and interest! ^^
You will have 40 year old hockey moms talk to all their friends about that really cute new "Linux" (used as if it were a version of Windows), that they caught, when they were surprised by that hot guy looking at her. She will put the DVD in, it will start, looking really fancy. And when it runs, it throws the full power of beauty and power at them! So that even if they don't understand a thing of it, they will want to learn to have that too.

Unrealistic? Well, the most common reaction I get from girls, when I show them my Linux desktop is: "I want that too! Can you put that on my computer?". QED. ^^

Re:"Go away"

[petrus4]

"Go away" is my reaction whenever someone on the street wants to give me something free - a religious booklet, a pro-something leaflet, a "work from home" job offer printed out on an inkjet...

Exactly the point. We say, "Go away," when the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses, or members of any other cult show up at our door.

Is anyone noticing the similarity in tactics that are being used here, between the FSF, and those other organisations, which the FSF's drones probably don't mind acknowledging as cults? ;)

TLAPD

[pushing-robot]

It's purely coincidental that Software Freedom Day happens to also be Talk Like a Pirate Day... Right?

Re:TLAPD

[maxume]

May the socially ostracized unite!

Keep it wacky, say goodbye to Joe public

[Anonymous Coward]

Standing around town centres like homeless winos. That's the problem with FOSS advocates, they keep coming up with these wacky ideas, and each time they put them into action the public sees.... err, a wacky idea, associated with FOSS.

If you want to guarantee that the public forever sees FOSS as a fringe thing unworthy of the consideration of normal people then carry on. If you want to really promote FOSS set up a business based on FOSS and make it work and grow.

Re:Keep it wacky, say goodbye to Joe public

[Scholasticus]

I wouldn't be too worried about this effect. This isn't going to show up on the radars of most people even as much as all those "Save Farscape" flyers which were all over the place when that show got cancelled. "Joe Public" (a.k.a. Joe Sixpack, a.k.a. Aunt Milly) doesn't even know enough about F/OSS to give a rat's. If F/OSS is ever going to become widely adopted by home users, it will be the same way Windows was - because that was what came installed on the computers people were buying at the time. Netbooks may help with this. Handing out CDs on street corners almost certainly won't.

Re:Keep it wacky, say goodbye to Joe public

[westlake]

Standing around town centres like homeless winos. That's the problem with FOSS advocates, they keep coming up with these wacky ideas...

It doesn't get any better than this:

The scene is the Boston Common in late August.

The event the launch of FSF's "Windows 7 Sins" campaign.

Special Guest Appearance by Ron Stoppable as Team Mascot. Free Software Foundation - Windows 7 Sins

You can expect much of the time - and much of the screen - to given over to a lecture by a paunchy - balding - middle-aged geek.

540 views.

It is quite possible for a Win 7 promotional video to net two million viewers. Windows 7

Re:Keep it wacky, say goodbye to Joe public

[koick]

You can be sure the "normal people" walking around malls haven't. Hell, you'd be lucky if they can name the vice president.

Malware

[DeadPixels]

With paranoia about malware and viruses at an all-time high, I certainly wouldn't run a CD a stranger on the street gave to me.

Will not work

[shadowblaster]

Most people probably won't know what to do with it anyway and it will end up in the bin. The average person will need help installing and configuring linux.

Even if they try installing it they will end up being frustrated for not being able to get things to work. They will end up scarred by the experience and fall back to Windows.

Much better to spend their efforts educating students at universities or school. Even better to get universities and schools to convert to FOSS. This way children are forced to learn and work with FOSS. When they grow up they would be able to use the experience to promote FOSS at home/work.

I still dont get it

[jrowlingson]

I know this is probably flamebait, but, it seems like there is no other industry that works as hard as we do to put ourselfs out of jobs.

Expected reaction

[tecnico.hitos]

FOSS Advocate: You are allowed to get the source code and modify the software to better fit your needs.
Average Joe: Lol wut!?
FOSS Advocate: ...you also don't have to pay.
Average Joe: You mean there are programs you have to pay for!?