[BadVista Advocate] RFC

Sat Apr 28 22:42:47 EDT 2007

Update: There is a page on the BinaryFreedom wiki here:
http://wiki.binaryfreedom.info/index.php/BadVista_Advocacy
Please update it/add more information. Let's turn this plan into reality!
Comrade Ringo Kamens

On 4/28/07, Ringo Kamens <2600denver at gmail.com> wrote:
> This is a great idea and something I've been wanting to do for a
> while. If anybody needs a place to collaborate, they can join the
> Binary Freedom IFSA mailing list (binaryfreedom.info) or on our wiki
> at wiki.binaryfreedom.info. Also, getting people involved in
> showusthecode.com would be good as well.
> In total solidarity,
> Comrade Ringo Kamens
>
> On 4/28/07, Don Hensley <Don at donhensley.com> wrote:
> >
> > This is not in any great order, it's just a stab at a coherent road to
> > possibly start us out in a unified but broad direction. (I have a fear of
> > narrow approaches. I think hackers work best when working on their own, but
> > in collaborative groups --Just my take is all).
> >
> > - - - -
> >
> > 1.  Set up a lot of cross linked and badged sites for our projects. A sort of
> > BadVista Ring, we already have enough of us to make a good core. This
> > diversifies the reach of our project, and helps all the Ring sites gain
> > Google rank.
> >
> > 2. Each site should "do it's own thing", but use heavy cross linkage to other
> > sites (within the Ring - so there is a cohesive wholeness to the links) to
> > show aspects that any one site is not delving into as deeply as the linked to
> > site is, for that particular subject. This gives us the ability to coordinate
> > both sites to play well off the strengths of the other site - because we have
> > a back end communication that is not apparent to the visitor.
> >
> > Among our Ring sites, I would encourage deep linking, as well as just linking
> > to the home page. Let the Ring links do the home pages, let deep links do the
> > internal work of leading people around. Use "open in a new window (tab)" so
> > the visitor does not lose where he was.
> >
> > 3. For that back end communication we need a wiki for resource management and
> > a board much like Slashdot only without the vote system (actually the Bruce
> > Perens Technocrat.net site does just what I have in mind). That way we can
> > track separate subjects and proposals by individual - and reply in a cogent
> > manner, instead of what we are doing now.
> >
> > 4. We link back to BadVista.org, of course, but mostly we try to use this mail
> > list as a recruiting ground for more participants, and general pointing out
> > new sites and findings. That gives us the drawing power of the FSF to find
> > ever more adherents to the cause. Of course we advocate joining the BadVista
> > Advocate program (and the FSF!), and provide links to the
> > http://badvista.fsf.org/mailman/listinfo/advocate and FSF.org sites for those
> > that wish to take part, at whatever level.
> >
> > 5. We need to link heavily to already existing sites that cover much of the
> > ground that there is little point in our repeating. With luck eventually some
> > of them will link back to our sites.
> >
> > 6. I do not think we need to pick a particular Distro, or try to create our
> > own. But I do think we should all use one or two Distros like gNewSense (it
> > is a Distro, you can download the ISO from here if you want):
> > http://www.gnewsense.org/Main/Features --but it is also more then just a
> > Distro, because you can use Builder and create a Distro to your liking.
> >
> > This does not mean limiting your self to just gNewSense, or any particular
> > Distro, just that we all should use some agreed on totally Free Distro, like
> > gNewSense, as our shared Distro for explanations when ever we are working the
> > notion of Free Software into our pages.
> >
> > Links and excerpts from the GNU philosophy pages would go well at the
> > appropriate points.
> >
> > 7. Also one might consider showing off  http://www.lnx-bbc.com/ it is the way
> > the FSF Associate Membership Cards are done (an entire GNU/Linux mini distro
> > on a business card sized (and shape) CD.
> >
> > 8. We should actually introduce the players and explain what they do and how
> > they work to create the entity generally known as GNU/Linux.
> >
> > By this I mean start with the Logos. Like the KDE dragon Konqi, the Gnome foot
> > print, the GNU GNU, the Linux penguin (Tux), and so on.
> >
> > Do lightweight intros into what each of those projects are, and where they fit
> > in the scheme of things. Link to another persons site on the Ring that is
> > doing a more in depth look at what ever your not going into in depth, like if
> > you are a Gnome user, link to a KDE users site (or several of the RING sites)
> > in your description of KDE. Deep link as required in descriptions of each
> > project, to other Ring members sites.
> >
> > A sort of distributed attack on the perception problem, make it fun and
> > educational. And I think each of us probably can, and does, reach a different
> > segment of end users that we each can present stuff to as fun. Lets try to
> > use that diversity, with a combined strategy.
> >
> > That way we can use our expertise to good instruction, and feel free to talk
> > about your favorite Distro... just always return to the shared pure GNU/Linux
> > Distro of choice (like gNewSense) as the example of totally Free Software.
> >
> > A pragmatic method, but consistently pointed at Free Software as the ultimate
> > goal.
> >
> > 9. Along the way, without making a big deal out of it, slip in little things
> > like how Vista does not allow you to control things like how you interface
> > with your own computer. Explain why it's so much more useful to be able to
> > change things, or have a community to ask for changes, rather then just being
> > at the mercy of one monopoly. The ***AA's are a monopolistic group too, not
> > just Microsoft.
> >
> > Easy segueway into why DRM is harmful, why Treacherous Computing is dangerous.
> >
> > 10. Have ever more layered pages that go into these subjects in more depth, if
> > the visitor wishes to follow up on some point you have made.
> >
> > BIG DISCLAIMER: I'm no good at jazzy web sites, and I don't know much about
> > marketing. These are just things --Starting points, for a possible road to
> > follow.
> >
> > There have been so many good ideas tossed out already that I am a bit
> > overwhelmed, so this is actually a sort of outline to bring our efforts into
> > some cohesive form.
> >
> > I read at least one person that said he'd managed to explain what an API was
> > to a pointy haired boss, I'll bet he and all you people can improve on my
> > little list. Probably in ways I'd never imagine.
> >
> > So this is more like a RFC, if you will.
> >
> > So bring on the comments.
> >
> > Don.
> > --
> > GNU/Linux is the future.
> > Join the FSF: http://www.fsf.org/register_form?referrer=4458
> > Get the Real Facts: http://BadVista.org
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Advocate mailing list
> > Advocate at badvista.org
> > http://badvista.fsf.org/mailman/listinfo/advocate
> >
>