[Fsfe-uk] Please comment on stage 1 education

[Sam Liddicott]

I'm about to publish this paragraph as part of a larger piece in a 
community newsletter I produce, with a distribution of about 1,800 
people. It will be the first introduction to free software for most readers.

Naturally it must be kept simple, and hopefully will not satisfy all 
questions.

I would appreciate any comments.

For those who are interested, I used the Inkscape vector drawing program 
to re-work the logo, and I use the Open Office word processor to produce 
the newsletters. Both pieces of software are free in the sense of 
liberty (you are positively encourage to share copies) and price (there 
is nothing to pay). Both pieces of software are available for Microsoft 
Windows (which I don't use and is not free in any sense) and GNU/Linux 
(which I do use and is free in both senses). As far as there being no 
such thing as a free lunch: good cooks like to bake and often give away 
cakes; good knitters like to knit and often knit for fun and share the 
results; good computer programmers like writing computer programs, and 
like to share the results too. Many programmers make intriguing use of 
copyright law to require that those who distribute the free software do 
so fairly or not at all! Many commercial software producers also find it 
in their best interest not to depend on tying their customers to 
proprietary solutions for revenue, but to focus on providing a good 
service. All carrot, and no stick keeps the users happy and free. For 
more information see the Free Software Foundation website at www.fsf.org

Sam