Re: [GNU-linux-libre] How do you handle references to non-free software in public forums?

[Koko Koala]

2011/7/9 Karl Goetz <address@hidden>

On Thu, 7 Jul 2011 18:43:33 +0200
Koko Koala <address@hidden> wrote:

> 2011/7/6 Henry Jensen <address@hidden>
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > If it occurs at the forum of a FSDG compliant distro that now and
> > then non-free software is mentioned, how do you handle this?
> >
>
> Here at BLAG, we have a non-free forum. But noone uses it (in fact,
> the forum is not that much used), and I doubt of its usefulness

I'm surprised its not considered an endorsement of proprietary software.

Well, I don't agree with this forum either, but we didn't think about the website yet. And it might be a solution.
 

> > All right, but in case of many new users or a high-traffic forum a
> > small team wouldn't be able to discourage every reference to
> > non-free software because of their limited resources.
> >
> >
> What we did on another forum was having a "pre-made" text explaining
> the purpose of the forum that we posted on every topic of persons
> that didn't understand it. We can adapt it for free software :
> something like making a wiki page (or even a full wiki) about all the

Perhaps a resources page on libreplanet for such things, we could put a
template community guidelines there too.

> free alternatives to proprietary software, a list of working hardware
> with linux-libre and only post this link (with a little comment) on
> the concerned post. I know that some sites already exist about this,
> maybe centralizing it would be a good idea

centralising the references maybe, but i doubt we can pull all that
information into one place - it just never seems to work out that way.

Maybe through a wiki, or a simple page that lists all useful links
 

thanks,
kk

--
Karl Goetz, (Kamping_Kaiser / VK5FOSS)
Debian contributor / gNewSense Maintainer
http://www.kgoetz.id.au
No, I won't join your social networking group