Hi,
> This whole exercise is hurting my head. :-)
Yep, and we better get used to it, cause it is going to happen more and
more and more.
=========================
there was a time, when everyone getting into linux was a computer
enthusiast. They were prepared to read and followup up on answers like,
do gdb coredumpfilename
threads apply all
bt etc.
Now, we have people who are clearly business people with linux software.
They have invested in software which was ready for commercial use.
They are not computer people, and do not have the time to read and
understand the 100 000 lines of code in a project.
So, one of these people writes to the list. What do I do?
I answer as proposed below. The business man reads my answer (which is
quite long, and well thought out) and says, hmm, I cannot do that, - I
don't have the time/skills. What he wants is a fix. Surely, the most
polite thing I can do is to a)explain the fix, and b)a oneliner saying I
can fix it (for a cost). The businessman gets what he wants, open sourcers
learn from my answer, and all should be happy.
Alternatively, I write to the list and criticise the guy for not doing
some work beforehand, and dismiss his request. (Such posts are out there)
Alternatively, I write to the list a short (and potentially misleading)
description of the answer and then say, Oh, I can fix it for a charge.
Alternatively, I write a nice long answer (same as first option above)
without the reference to my consulting. For the businessman, totally
useless. he cannot implement my answer - not the right skills.
=================
Now, in the above discussion, substitute anything for the businessman.
It might be someone with a linux computer at home (cause it was cheap) who
is having real troubles, but does not have the time to fix it. Again, what
is the polite answer?
It might be a linux enthusiast, who will do it himself, given my answer.
In this case, my professional services are not required.
Do you see my point? There are cases where it is sensible to point to the
signature at the bottom (mentioning consulting services). There are other
cases where consulting services should not be mentioned. There is never a
case for short (and potentially misleading) answers.
And the other point - there will be more and more people coming along who
do need real help, not just a paragraph of text in an email.
===========================
At the heart of this discussion is something else. All the above
discussion is just window dressing that hides the real issue.
Some have the philosophical view that linux is free, and money should not
be involved. Fine, you can have that view. However, who/what will put the
food on my table and pay the mortgage?
Derek.
(and my head hurts too, but I do not think blanket rules are the way to go)
========================
On Sun, 18 Apr 2004, Christopher Sawtell wrote:
> On Sunday 18 April 2004 14:22, Dave G wrote:
>
> > if commercial posts were clearly labelled as such in the subject line would
> > be acceptable,
> No,
>
> > or would it be more appropriate that it was all done off-
> > list??
> Yes.
>
> ok, having spent a few hours agonising over it, here are my feelings and
> opinions on the subject.
>
> 1) Unsolicited posts advertising goods, or services for sale completely
> unrelated to Free ( Libre ) or Open Source Software are totally Off Topic.
> The fact that some piece of hardware has a driver which allows it's use under
> Linux as well as under other O/Ss does not, imho, "relate" it to Linux. This
> kind of posting means "Spamming the List", just don't do it at all.
>
> 2) Similarly, I think it's also totally OT to request commercial supply of
> goods or services, related to FLOSS or otherwise. There are various "Gazette"
> web sites for this very purpose.
>
> 3) Replies to questions for help about commercial products and services based
> on FLOSS:-
> Fine. Be sure to provide a technical solution to the list if you know the
> answer. However it's not acceptable to provide a solution couched in the
> form:- "Yes, I can fix that for you. The last one I did took 5 hours and the
> rate is $100 per hour + GST". There is no sharing of information in that kind
> of posting,
>
> 4) Requests for commercial help with a FLOSS product / project:-
> If for personal use, fine. Otherwise see 2) above.
>
> 5) It's ok for < 6 signature lines to mention a posters related profession and
> contact details.
>
>
> This whole exercise is hurting my head. :-)
>
> Let's just be polite to each other and remember that the list is primarily a
> forum for the discussion of technical issues related to Linux and FLOSS
> generally as opposed to a marketplace.
>
>
>
--
Derek Smithies Ph.D. This PC runs pine on linux for email
IndraNet Technologies Ltd. If you find a virus apparently from me,
it has
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] forged the e-mail headers on someone
else's machine
ph +64 3 365 6485 Please do not notify me when
(apparently) receiving a
Web: http://www.indranet-technologies.com/ windows virus from me......
