Re: Pulling this together...

[Sriram Ramkrishna <sri aracnet com>]

On Fri, Oct 22, 2004 at 09:55:21PM +0200, Claus Schwarm wrote:
> On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 09:48:33 -0700
> Sriram Ramkrishna <sri aracnet com> wrote:
> 
> > I'm trying to figure out how a simple set of questions on audience
> > turned into this. :-)
> > 
> 
> After reading my own post, again, I must admit I got carried away
> from your question. Sorry. :(

No problem. :-)  It happens to me too.

> According to my experience, normal people have more important things to

Of course.  Thats what seperates them from say the slashdot crowd.

> consider (well, from their personal perspective) than which software
> they run. Their attention is very constrained. Most of them don't read
> texts longer than a paragraph. Nearly none of them is able to understand
> such abstract things like 'Free Software'.

Yeah, I agree.  They don't need to really know, unless they ask.  For instance, they could ask "WHy is this software free?  How come your giving it away
for nothing?"  Thats a good segway into explaining Free Software.  

> If GNOME marketing is going to be based on a plan like "Some people
> adress target groups X twice a year with action A, while others adress
> group Y three times a year with action B", both groups won't be heard. 

But if you constrain them to things they don't want to do you won't
get the help you get either.  You're method would require incentives
to do so.  Maybe thats "Bright Shiny Future".  I don't know.


> Once more, sorry for misunderstanding your original mail. Maybe I'm
> afraid of splitting marketing efforts: If things are organized without a
> note here on the list, this is already happening.

I think it will split regardless because of who you attract.  It's better
to plan for it and embrace it.  Otherwise, it'll lead to frustration.

> To answer your question:
> * The prime audience should be university students, aged 17 to 28.

OK.  Have you also considered mid 30s people?  (eg my age group) They
live in a world where they are constantly bombarded by spyware and what
not because of their use of IE/Windows and commercialism.  GNOME would
provide a welcome respite from all that hubub.  GNOME == Place in the
Country, WINDOWS == Big City.

> Our first objective:
> * Communicate to the rest of the community why this audience should be
>    adressed, which potential projects they may participate in if they
>    like, what they can do to help, and why this is important.

That sounds fine with me.  But it seems like we need more volunteers
who are willing to do work.

My question then is, what do you need to make your objective work?  

What do other people think of this direction?

sri