Promoting FOSS to People Who Don't Care

MarcoF brings us his take on how to cultivate interest in open-source software to casual users who aren't interested in or necessarily aware of its existence. Many people simply have trouble leaving their comfort zone of older proprietary software; what's the best way to get them to look at an open-source alternative? "Since most people would rather die than write or study software source code, it is actually counterproductive to promote software 'because you can modify it yourself and be part of its community'. Look for really practical advantages which can be enjoyed every day by the person you want to convince. Start from the actual deep passions, beliefs, interests and practical needs of the people in front of you and go backwards from there, delaying the apparition of terms like 'source code', 'the four software freedoms', GPL, Gnu, Linux, etc."

My solution

[Naughty Bob]

I tried persuading all my friends, citing the freedom argument, the security argument, the stability, community etc. Nothing worked. Then I learned how. Show them the spinning cube (With my heavy metal friends, I go for a pentagonal prism), and shout 'It's free! It's free!' Over and over.

Re:Easy, no Licenses/activation key

[B3ryllium]

"What, did you skip the 60s or something, pops? If people like doing it, they'll totally give it away for free."

Want to promote FOSS to the general populace? Easy

[Anonymous Coward]

Just hire a spokesperson with really big tits. Like, really big.

Re:Lead by Example

[s20451]

I lead by example. Then, when someone comes to me with his IE problem, I (honestly) tell him that I'm sorry but I can't help him with that because I use a better browser instead and point him to Firefox.

Lead by example? That's my way of (politely) not giving free technical support to moochers.

Re:Easy, no Licenses/activation key

[gEvil (beta)]

"Oh, I remember the 60s. Best years of my life. I spent some time in the jungle hunting down the Cong. Y'know, this 'open source' stuff sounds kinda like commie propaganda to me."

Maybe there are some people you shouldn't try to switch to FOSS. : p

Re:My solution

[ronocdh]

Dude, honestly, this is exactly how it worked for me. I've of course tried to politely let others in my life know about how absolutely great it can be to live in the world of open source, but no one ever cares. "What do you mean I can change the program? I can't write code."

Then one day I simply went to shut off my music before going out with friends, and when I clicked the Amarok icon in my taskbar, the cube flipped to another desktop. Everyone in the room urged me to do it again.

Funny thing? First thing out of their mouth: "Oh, you must have a Mac." =D

Re:Thet fact that it's free ...

[Anonymous Coward]

... there is no Ubuntu Genuine Advantage ...

http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/ [linuxgenui...antage.org]

Re:Easy, no Licenses/activation key

[Kaeluka]

It was the same for my parents. They switched from MS Office to Open Office. My father, who has at least a little bit PC experience got used to it very soon, my mother was somehow irritated by the different names ("Word" vs. "Writer") ;) but using the software itself wasn't to much of a problem for her either.. I would call that a success

Re:Thet fact that it's free ...

[russ1337]

"there is no Ubuntu Genuine Advantage"

Don't speak too soon.. There is Linux Genuine Advantage:

http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/ [linuxgenui...antage.org]

Linux Genuine Advantage(TM) is an exciting and mandatory new way for you to place your computer under the remote control of an untrusted third party!

According to an independent study conducted by some scientists, many users of Linux are running non-Genuine versions of their operating system. This puts them at the disadvantage of having their computers work normally, without periodically phoning home unannounced to see if it's OK for their computer to continue functioning. These users are also missing out on the Advantage of paying ongoing licensing fees to ensure their computer keeps operating properly.

Re:Want to promote FOSS to the general populace? E

[schon]

Who did you have in mind, Daniela Cicarelli?

More likely CowboyNeal. :)