Boston Linux Conference December 3-4

[Paul Iadonisi]

On Tue, 2002-11-26 at 10:50, Derek Martin wrote:
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> At some point hitherto, Paul Iadonisi hath spake thusly:
> > > marketing-types who don't understand the difference between Microsoft Word
> > > and a hard disk drive.  Basically, they are ignorant, not careless.
> > 
> >   As far as I'm concerned:
> > 
> > IGNORANCE = CARELESSNESS
> 
> No offense, but that's just silly.  Ignorance is simply the state of
> not knowing, and no one can know everything.  We are all ignorant,

  Well, I actually think we are in violent agreement. :-)  I make a
distinction between ignorance (IGNORing available facts/knowledge) and
innocence, however.  It's when someone is made aware that they are doing
something bad, is presented with the 'right' way, and then chooses to
ignore the information and continue with the bad behavior that I call
them ignorant and imply that they are careless (i.e.: they could care
less).

> every one of us.  The only question is, of what do we choose to be
> ignorant?  Generally, we will choose not to be ignorant of those
> things that are most important and/or most helpful to us.  
> 
> While I would agree with anyone whose preference were otherwise, the
> fact is that most HR/marketing types simply have no use to know any
> more about computers than is absolutely necessary to get their job
> done.  To them, it's a tool to make life easier, not a tinker toy,
> and they shouldn't /need/ to learn about it.  It should just do what
> they want it to.

  Ah, yes, but a marketer's job is to do good marketing.  One could
argue that having information on a Linux conference locked up in a M$
format is not good marketing (albeit, a little less convincingly today,
with OpenOffice being as good as it is at viewing these documents).

 
> >   But you're right that it is usually the types that can't tell the
> > difference between applications, data, operating systems, hardware,
> > etc.  Some of that is okay, but in other cases it behooves people like
> > us to explain to them why sending out a Word document to a Linux crowd
> > is bad marketing.  And given the SIZE of such documents, it's generally
> > bad form, anyhow.
> 
> Yes, I agree; however you are asking a lot if you expect your
> explanation to make a significant impact.  Most still won't care,
> because this is how business is done...

  Agreed when it comes to the size argument.  Though I think the Linux
information in an M$ format has a bit more potential to have an impact.

-- 
-Paul Iadonisi
 Senior System Administrator
 Red Hat Certified Engineer / Local Linux Lobbyist
 Ever see a penguin fly?  --  Try Linux.
 GPL all the way: Sell services, don't lease secrets