Linux free software movement

[Doug Schuler]

I'm *definitely* supposed to be doing everything but posting here...

But..

I just finished an article on Linux and the free software movement.
These hackers (from all over the world) are working together to build
open-source operating system, software tools, and, recently, a public
domain GUI (called gnome - pronounced guh-nome).  They seem to be taken
very seriously -- especially in third world countries that can't afford
version 173.2.1 updates, etc.

My questions --

1. Do *we* (community networkers) offer anything analogous?  (Seems to
me that the Usenet newsgroups may be the closest thing.  What's our
connection to THEM?  will the web put THEM out of business?  I wonder
how their numbers are growing. )

2.  How can *we*  build bridges with them?  Is there a natural fit:
public software, public information, public communication?

The Technology Review article closed with a quote from Gandhi:

First they ignore you, then they laugh, then they fight, then they
lose.


-- Doug

BTW, The Peter Kollock and Marc Smith book on "Communities in Cyberspace"
is now out.  It has lots of empirical study on usenet newsgroups,etc.
(Routledge)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *  From the Listowner  * * * * * * * * * * * *
.	To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to:
majordomo at scn.org		In the body of the message, type:
unsubscribe scn
==== Messages posted on this list are also available on the web at: ====
* * * * * * *     http://www.scn.org/volunteers/scn-l/     * * * * * * *