Re: polarization

[Andy Tai <atai atai org>]

Hi,  even though Bruce Perens was not a significantly direct GNOME contributor,
given his status in and contribution to Free Software, it may be good to have him
on the GNOME Foundation board.  Given GNOME is in heavy competetion with "the
other guy", having Bruce Perens directly on the side of GNOME should be valuable
and contribute to GNOME's position.

Similarly the Sun representative should be elected as well, even though he has not
contributed to GNOME the way the "long time" people have.  GNOME needs to have
Sun's voice heard directly on the board  And Bruce Perens can glue/balance it if
the Sun voice disagrees with the hackers...

Just one view

> No, I haven't been involved in GNOME development on a regular basis. But I've
> been a very public GNOME supporter from day one and _hope_ I've helped GNOME
> that way.
>
> I think I've helped convince Sun to GPL StarOffice. I wrote a paper on it that
> you can read at http://www.perens.com/Articles/StarOffice.html . This was
> widely publicized and helped convince the Linux community that "almost
> Free Software" wasn't free enough. I suspect this is moot as most people have
> already cast their votes.
>         Bruce
>
> > From: Sri Ramkrishna <sri aracnet com>
> > The main reason to put it bluntly is you're a controversial
> > figure.  People are warped by whatever actions you may have done or they
> > thought you may have done.  I dont have any kind of pre-conceived notion
> > what you're like, personally.  I think you would make a fine candidate for
> > a number of reasons:
> >
> > o Ability to think outside GNOME.  Like Jim Gettys, I think you will
> >   bring maturity and rational thinking to any forum including this one.
> >   I think that is highly valuable valuable skills.  Especially when most
> >   of the board is under 25. ;)
> >
> > o You understand the business of Free Software and how it affects the
> >   world around you.  World view is important in a group thats looking at
> >   the future direction.
> >
> > o You're a hacker in your own right.
> >
> > o You have excellent language skills. (I can't speak for verbal, some
> >   people can emote wonderfully but can't speak right) :-)
> >
> > The negative thing I have against you is the fact that you have not been
> > involved in GNOME on any kind of regular basis.  The candidates that
> > people have mentioned have put a lot of their waking hours into the GNOME
> > project.  They believe very strongly in GNOME.  I hope you do too.
> >
> > Those are some of the points off the top of my head.  I think the fact
> > that you can go and do the "dirty work" means that you will help protect
> > GNOME from companies who which to leverage the code base for their
> > own ends.  I think few of the candidates here can claim that.
> >
> >
> >       Thanks,
> >       sri
> >
>

--
Li-Cheng Tai (Andy Tai)                       e-mail: atai atai org

Free Software:  the software by the people, of the people and for the people.
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