Re: [ox-en] Germ of a new form of society or germ of a new form of business?
- From: august <august alien.mur.at>
- Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 17:02:16 +0100 (CET)
about elitism,
I think one can find a definite lineage in free software, coming directly
out of old-skool hackerismo. this is a real drag with the more
evangelical of the floss user base. but, I don't like the adjective elite
to describe it. it's too imprecise.
and I do think there is a general public that reeps the advantages of free
software without ever even looking at the code. most of your emails and
webservers run over free software. I don't think one needs to code to be
able to be positivly affected or positively USE free software.
when I installed yellow dog linux on top of my lowly MAC back in 98, I
didn't know a thing about programming. In fact, I had just met my first
computer in 1996. But, I knew I was getting a stable operating system
that might demand more from me than other proprietary systems where I had
the feeling my intelligence was being insulted.
Linux was a challenge to learn, and I slowly found out that it was
encouraging me to learn more about what going on inside the machine as
apposed to other operating systems which were encouraging me to remain
dumb.
I really thinkg Mac and Micro$$ really want their USERS to be and enjoy
being dumb. This makes their marketing that much easier.
so, while there is an "elite-ness" to free-software, it's one I prefer
over the provincialism/populism of proprietary ideals.
computers are complex systems. I think it is wrong to assume that they
can be generally applicaple AND function like a toaster.
best -august.
You have to be inducted tot he elite to be able to take advantage of
the "free" attched to the source code.
I think there is a important difference between learning the skills
necessary to use it and being "inducted into the elite." Free software
exists in a world of inequality and will reflect and reinforce
those unless developers are aware and proactive -- and to some degree
even when they are.
learning the skills introduces you/inducts you into the hacker republic. Until
then you are not.
try and get help advice when you live somewhere were the republic does not
exist....its not a question of reading the manual as the manuals are written
for people with skills......even installing a new version of open office org
requires those skills that are not available to all. Installing a new msof
windows doesnt require any skill.
Martin
--
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http://openflows.org/~auskadi/
"Mind you, I am not asking you to bear witness to what you believe false,
which would be a sin, but to testify falsely to what you believe true - which
is a virtuous act because it compensates for lack of proof of something
that certainly exists or happened." Bishop Otto to Baudolino in Umberto Eco's
Baudolino.
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