[svlug] Making Sought After Linux Web Pages

[Javilk]

> 
> Javilk, we are going to have to agree to disagree. I don't think putting
> in fallacious tags into a web page is ethical. It's dishonest, and not
> something I want to associate the group with. That's it. You can try to

   It is only dishonest if you do not talk about it in the text of the
page itself, and talk about it meaningfully, not dishonestly.  Which is
more or less what I assumed (and yes, I know how to spell that,) most of
us would do if we took the trouble to put up such a page. 

     Remember what I said, 'tell them in your own words why you like
linux.' And relate it to what they know and experience.  Use some of their
language. "You know the fun you had hacking that game to make it do more? 
Linux gives you the source AND the tools so you can make what you want. 
Why crack when you can read the code, and post your modifications for the
entire world to see?  That is how Linux was built, and that's why I like
Linux." etc. Then tell them what you have done, and where to get it.  Is
that lying? Is that being dishonest? I don't think so.  I think that is
telling the truth to an audience, the next generation of computer users,
in terms of what they know. 

> Would you also use porn site methods of attracting people to the svlug
> site. Perhaps put the words you snipped out in our meta tags too? 

    No, because the mentality of pornography has little in common with the
kind of intellectual pursuit that some of these kids engage in, of the
feeling of technical competency and mastery that it gives them. Isn't that
obvious?

     I've worked with marketing people on selling products.  To grow your
market, you have to attract the KIND of people who may find your stuff
interesting.  Face it, these kids are not going to look for Linux till
they hear about it.  So you have to reach out and tell them about it.  You
identify your target audience, create an ambiance that is attractive to
them, (Marlborough man, (cough, choke) for cigarettes, Chuck Yeager next
to some fighter jets for spark plugs, the IMAGE of being a Marine, etc.
etc.) Then you state your pitch in terms of what they are likely to want,
and how we, or Linux satisfies those needs and desires.

     What I am saying, is that the kids looking for warez and cracks are,
in large part, looking for the experience of being above something, of
exploring high tech, and of playing games.  Sure, Linux has some nice
games on it.  And some of these kids, in a couple of years, might make
some really knockout games for Linux if we attract them.  But the bottom
line is the feelings of mastery that they are looking for.  I know, that
was part of why I enjoyed my Imsai 8080 so much.  And what I missed so
much when I tried wondoze.

     This is pure fun without a boss to make you do what he wants.  It's
talking about what you like. 

> > > >   Include plenty of links to Linux archives, magazines, and vendors. 

- javilk at mall-net.com ---------------------------
MS asks "Where do you want to go?"
Linux asks "What do you want to do?"
It is doers, not goers, who built this world!
Member: http://www.svlug.org/

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