[ubuntu-uk] Free lunch?

[Andres]

On 25/03/12 11:06, alan c wrote:
> On 24/03/12 11:08, Chris Penston wrote:
>
> [snip of really good stuff]
>
>>   People tend to be impressed by the novelty
>> that they have a choice.  Almost always, the reaction is astonishment
>> that something can be so good without costing anything 'so there must be
>> a catch'.
> Yes I find that a lot, also. It is difficult explaining that although
> there is no such thing as a free lunch (probably true), that there
> *is* Libre software. But then, there is -some- good in the world. I
> was in Paris  for a short trip recently and on two occasions, complete
> strangers helped with acts of kindness. One gent insisted I took his
> seat on a crowded bus (1) and later that day I (we) were lost on the
> Metro and a couple noticed this and helped us get sorted.
>
> 1) He looked at least as old as I am! But I guess he saw my walking
> stick and also I was very unpractised and clumsy trying to get a hand
> hold. Slightly embarrassing to get noticed in such a way, but
> heartwarming and appreciated nevertheless.
>
>> 'keep calm and carry on!'  The times are changing.
> Yay!
>
I am glad you brought this up. Whilst going over the free software 
concept with my neighbour whilst setting ubuntu on a USB stick for her 
to try out she mentioned "So there is not going to be pop ups asking me 
for purchasing such and such or asking for donations?". I was happy to 
say no. But that there where places where she could donate to help the 
cause. I normally just tell them that there are big companies competing 
against each other using the same product and they can use each others 
improvements so the user is always a winner.

And this also lets me share something I suspected but had not basis for 
it. If someone wants scientific and historical evidence as to why people 
are now kinder (and give out free lunch!) I could refer them to two books.

[1]  ¨The better angels our our nature¨ written by Steven Pinker which I 
am reading now goes over the historical reasons and shows how we are 
less violent now. That is even taking into account the WW1&2!

[2] "Wired for culture: The natural history of human cooperation" By 
Mark Pagel have not read it yet (looking it up in Calibre as I write 
these lines) but shows how we where able to evolve quicker than other 
animals because we found cooperation to be more effective.

I will probably use these as arguments for the harder to convince.


PS: Sorry to the links to newspaper that might not be everybody's cup of 
tea but it is where I get my podcast from.
[1] 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/audio/2012/mar/19/science-weekly-podcast-wired-culture 
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/audio/2012/mar/19/science-weekly-podcast-wired-culture>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/audio/2012/mar/19/science-weekly-podcast-wired-culture



-- 
Sent from my Ubuntu desktop

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