Re: [LibrePlanet-US-MA] Free software advocacy? How about some devil's advocacy?

[John Sullivan]

R Mullen <address@hidden> writes:

> Let me finish up with a question: How do you all continue to turn your
> gaze outward with optimism, rather than falling back to a community in
> which you can expect and receive support? Is what we need really
> another small and loosely-joined group with intent to bring about
> change? It's so easy to talk, but it's a lot harder to find a willing
> audience. Not everyone is a programmer who can share your frustration.
>
> Anyway, now that I've revealed my pessimism, I do sincerely hope that
> the free software ideal is propagated. Everyone would be the better
> for it. I'll be happy to help out where possible.

My three cents:

1. As much as our mothers/fathers like to tell us we are, we are not
unique. There are other people like you (and me) out there who will
start caring about the ethics of software when prompted to think about
it. We need to reach them.

2. I do a little thought experiment -- think back to 10 years ago (or
even 5). Free software is way more popular and known now than it was
then. This reminds me that great changes are possible over time, but
that sometimes progress doesn't feel like progress when I'm in the thick
of it.

3. Remember that people fight for other people's rights all the time.
They might not care about their own ability to view source code or
modify programs, but it is not so hard for them to understand how they
benefit from a world in which people who do like to do those things have
the freedom to do them, just like they benefit from a world in which the
press can operate freely regardless of whether they own their own TV
station. And they can also appreciate the general idea that people
should have the freedom to share useful things with each other.

-- 
John Sullivan
Free Software Foundation
Manager of Operations
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