Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 03:23:55 -0600 From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: "Jordan K. Hubbard" <jkh@zippy.cdrom.com> Cc: chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Good memes vs. good code Message-ID: <4.2.0.58.19990909030215.045a1ee0@localhost> In-Reply-To: <7214.936854081@localhost> References: <Your message of "Wed, 08 Sep 1999 20:37:37 MDT." <4.2.0.58.19990908195708.0463db80@localhost>
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At 10:14 PM 9/8/99 -0700, Jordan K. Hubbard wrote: >BZZZZT. Nice guess, Brett, and thanks for playing! > >But you got it completely wrong, of course, because I was talking >about the front line ADVOCATES. The people actually writing articles, >showing up at trade-shows, investing their own money, if necessary, to >give away FreeBSD pens and buttons at Linux groups and try and talk >about how wonderful FreeBSD is. I write articles and columns each month in which I mention BSD UNIX and FreeBSD in particular. I doubt that there's anyone who does so more often. The fact that you apparently don't read them doesn't change that fact. I've also mentioned BSD frequently in speeches and presentations, which do far more to persuade an audience than a cheap giveaway. As for passing out buttons: I'm afraid I'm not very big on that sort of advocacy -- perhaps because it has zero effect on me. I dump large quantities of buttons and stickers that have been pinned on me or given to me after every trade show without a second thought. If I didn't, I would probably not be able to get into my office. > THAT is a front-line evangelist and >the mark of a successful one is that he or she doesn't spend their >time sitting around posting long-winded screeds about how the project >managers are doing everything wrong, they're out there actually >pounding pavement and doing very tangible, measurable things. Handing out individual buttons is not the most efficient use of time or the most effective form of advocacy, IMHO. (Others may think differently, and they're welcome to engage in those activities.) I think that what I do has made much more of a difference. >I said it before and I'll say it again: The last mainstream article we >saw from you was in Smart Reseller, a long time ago now. I don't suppose you've taken the time to read my columns or my other published articles, then. > I also see >you at trade shows now and then, but all you seem to do there is take >the opportunity to fire your guns at us, If I were firing guns, believe me, you'd know it. I have not done any such thing. >you're not one of the other >folks who line up in the morning and ask for flyers and stuff to take >around to the other vendors and generally Be Helpful. Alas, I can't afford to go to a trade show merely to be a "gofer." And, as mentioned above, I do not believe that passing out flyers or buttons is necessarily the most effective thing I could do. To extend the "front lines" analogy, I can produce far greater results manning the artillery or serviing as an officer than by serving as cannon fodder, and that's what I prefer to do when I engage in advocacy. It's not clear why you are so eager to diss such contributions. --Brett To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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