advocacy

[DCT Jared Smith]

For those who are considering leaping into the
proposed religious war, advocating Linux to ten
people by year-end as a solution to all 
computer-related problems, realize that
the best convert is the one who is inspired to
join, and one who is coerced is actually a
liability.

Far from being a discouraging word, this e-mail
is to bring a word of consideration; the idea of
converting 10 people to Linux within a year's
time... is a marketer's approach to Linux.

A much more "Free Software"-like approach
involves harder work: find an open source
project out there which really inspires you, and
work on it. Spend extra time each week, learning
the language if you must, combing through the
code and fixing bugs to make the project better.

The enthusiasm fired up by this sort of endeavor
will spread over into your everyday life like no
other marketing technique. People are inspired
by hard workers. Work hard, and Linux will
always attract hard workers. Go out and convert,
and you'll attract a bunch of people who want to
go out and convert.

Better to make Linux rock solid, than to import
a bunch of corrupted files...

-Jared