Re: [Fsuk-manchester] Mission statement - request for comments

[Tim Dobson]

On Thursday 26 June 2008 21:02:17 Simon Ward wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 12:34:01AM +0100, Tim Dobson wrote:
> > Therefore is it absolutely necessary to mention GNU/Linux in the mission
> > statement?
>
> I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to mention it, but, like it or
> not, it’s a major topic (this should really have been in my previous
> mail along with the related comment).

It's a major topic. but can it be justified as being more important that any 
of the other systems that aren't being mentioned?
Personally, though we obviously owe an awful lot to GNU/Linux, we don't need 
to plug it in the mission statement - perhaps "free software operating 
systems" or something could be worked in... i don't know, that's just a 
suggestion.

> > Manchester *free software* group
>
> Free software is the first thing mentioned:
>
>   “… group in the Manchester area that focuses on *free software* and…”

I think by focusing on free software, our conversations and our talks can dip 
into a bit of everything practically.

Because free software has many shapes, many forms and many uses, we can have 
non-technical conversations about gnu/linux ones month, a talk about a 
webdesign startup & free software the next month with an emphasis on BAMP(BSD 
Apache MYSQL, PHP), we can then welcome talks about openembedded on routers, 
talks about lesser free software operating systems like reactos, haiku & 
syllable and so forth.

Whilst I acknowledge that before, this would not have been hindered much, 
making the focus "free software" and things than cause problems to free 
software (eg. drm, software patents) we are being very inclusive whilst 
avoiding too much friction with other local groups, where there need not be 
friction.

I have a very busy upcoming few days however I hope my view is clear as I may 
not be able to reply for a few days forthcoming.

Tim

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