[ILUG] email sent to potiticians about Mary Hannafin'sdecisionnotto use open source

[dr_gonzo at redbrick.dcu.ie]

>>yeah, imho, there really needs to be a strong lobbying force for open
>>source software. at least then there would be at least an awareness of
>>OSS.
>>
>
> Well theres no use in saying there should be this that or the other its
> something we need to do then.

true, this has been brought up before when various media people have
spread FUD about OSS. afaik ILUG does have press releases but ILUG should
be more active and not just reactive.

>
> A good way to start is so people can post up letters or point out errors
> in articles & reports & especially M$ presentations & reports.

please stop using the term M$, it just makes you look immature and people
will be less likely to take you seriously. i understand that your motives
are well intentioned but other people, people who you're trying to
convince, may not.

> Then everyone works on that letter(like in a wikki)and at the endof the
> day the website administrator sends it off to the relevant people, being
> politicians or newsgroups & reporters.
> The opensource way of doing it.
> Might also be an idea to have this "lobby" group do some studies &
> reports like TCO and the likes, ones that are fair & unscewed, and
> especially up to date.

i'm sure that there are already studies out there, we just need to
publicise them more.

usually newspapers have little tech corners. the evening herald does.
maybe it'd be a good idea to send the guy who does these tech reports
information on linux and maybe a Knoppix CD and a Mandrake CD and see if
he does a review of Linux.