[I am removing contact@fsfe.org (which creates a ticket in our ticket system) and translators@lists.fsfe.org (which is where our awesome translators coordinate translation and proofreading efforts).]
Hello Gergely,
* Gergely Székely [2017-12-11 12:15 +0100]:
I worriedly watch the slowing down of the accumulation of the signatures of the Public Money Public Code open letter. I think this is a great campaign that should reach as much people as possible and the slowing down bellow 15k signatures sort of suggest that its spreading started fading way too soon.
Yes, it is slowing down. But that is normal, when there is less press coverage and less activities.
Maybe we (FSFE volunteers, supporters, and members) should give the campaign an extra push. I'm pretty certain that the vast majority of people haven't even heard about the campaign yet.
Yes, we absolutely should push the campaign further. That is for everybody involved in the FSFE, but we also plan to involve the organisations as well as the individuals who signed the open letter more into this in future again.
The best thing for that is, if you have new information (e.g. outcomes of the FOI request (see the information here https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/PMPC ), or when there was some more developments in our area. E.g. https://fsfe.org/news/2017/news-20171109-01.en.html https://fsfe.org/news/2017/news-20171206-01.en.html
Some ideas:
- Can't we know and get some celebrities of relatively famous guys
sympathizing with Free Software who may openly support the camping and attract others to join as supporters? I don't know Stephen Fry is very famous and I have seen him advertising Trisquel GNU/Linux-libre on youtube, Bryan Lunduke also have some fame and a regular youtube program on Free Software related stuff, and probably there are plenty of people who may worth a shot to ask...
Yes, that's a very important part. We already have a few http://download.fsfe.org/campaigns/pmpc/share-quotes/ and will hopefully soon have some more. From Fry we got some quotes for Document Freedom Day in the past. The best outcome is that they do not just give you the quote but share it in their circle. So if you have ideas, feel free to go ahead and contact people about a quote. If they are willing to do so, feel free to CC me or contact@ then in the conversation when you need support.
- I also think it would be worth bringing the campaign to the streets.
A couple of volunteers could bring campaign stickers or flyers (https://git.fsfe.org/gergely/PMPC_QR-code_flyers) and distribute them to the passers-by. (If you are [or know] someone in Budapest who would happily join me doing that please contact me. Unfortunately, I would feel embarrassed to do this alone... :-/)
Absolutely! Some of our local groups already do such activities. https://wiki.fsfe.org/LocalGroups If you are interested how they approach people on the streets, especially the Vienna and the Munich group did quite a lot of those activities in the past. You could also ask coordinators@lists.fsfe.org if people can get in contact with you, how to spread information about Free Software on the streets.
- I think putting posters to bulletin boards in universities would
also be great. Lack of official posters link https://git.fsfe.org/gergely/PMPC_QR-code_flyers here too. I totally plan to do this with the linked QR-code flyers even alone but if you are in Budapest and happy to join please contact me as this is also more fun to do in pairs or in groups.
I have just contacted one of our designer if he could work on a PMPC poster. Would be good if you could then spread those.
- I think the campaign should also be boosted on online platforms
(forums, blogs, social media, etc). I'm only on diaspora* there I think I did my part (maybe on diaspora* most of the active users are already reached)...
Yes, I would love that. The question is: how do you motivate people to do the same as you did? At the moment we mainly do so by the share links on the website itself. If you have other ideas, please let us know.
- I don't know if opening and keeping alive threads about the campaign
on 4chan /g/ is a good idea or not? but I can help in that... Also if you can recommend online platforms where I can help engaging in discussion about the campaign I'm happy to do so.
Björn, Nikos, and Jan might soon publish something more on a new FSFE platform for this. Until then we are happy if you contact Free Software groups about it and if you talk with others online and offline about the campaign. But people on our lists are most of the times already aware about it. The important part is to spread out to new audiences and explain them the issue. For that the video is a very good tool. So encourage people to watch it, and share it again.
All in all: Keep spreading the message are way too many people to be reached!!!
One particular action I would encourage you to do: spent the holiday season to speak with friends and family about Public Money, Public Code and encourage them, that if they agree, they should sign the Open Letter https://publiccode.eu/#action
Gergely, thanks for being part of the PMPC campaign!
Best Regards, Matthias
Hello Matthias,
Thanks for the reply and the lots of useful information in it.
Sorry, for sending my ideas to multiple forums. My main excuse is that I do believe that the PMPC campaign can be a game changer and we should spread the message until it reaches everyone.
I have just contacted one of our designer if he could work on a PMPC poster. Would be good if you could then spread those.
That sounds great. I'm looking forward to the PMPC poster. (Please, don't forget to add the qr-code of string https://publiccode.eu/, most people understandably prefer scanning a qr-code over typing on mobile devices.)
- I think the campaign should also be boosted on online platforms
(forums, blogs, social media, etc). I'm only on diaspora* there I think I did my part (maybe on diaspora* most of the active users are already reached)...
Yes, I would love that. The question is: how do you motivate people to do the same as you did? At the moment we mainly do so by the share links on the website itself. If you have other ideas, please let us know.
That's a tough question. I don't know. I try to 'post' my enthusiasm about the PMPC campaign and hope that people will follow...
What do you think about trying to start a movement putting PMPC stickers to the doors of their flats and/or offices, taking a picture about it and sharing it on social media?
Idea behind the sticking: people crossing the doors will see the sticker and may engage in discussion about the campaign with the person sticking it. Idea behind sharing: it maybe has a little chance that it become a social network movement and then the campaign may reach a lot of people. A difficulty: only few people has stickers and it takes days to acquire them. Possible solution: before starting this "stick and post" movement sending a couple of (say 5 or 10) stickers to people who signed the campaign. (If this is not too costly) Another difficulty: the possible initial posters are spread across plenty of different smaller social networks that are not necessarily see each-other already. The crucial movement-igniting-part of "leader", "first follower", "second follower", etc. may not appear concentrated enough to really start the movement.
Here is a short but insightful TED video about starting movements: https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement/transcript
If you start this movement also in on diaspora* I would happily join it as first or second follower...
One particular action I would encourage you to do: spent the holiday season to speak with friends and family about Public Money, Public Code and encourage them, that if they agree, they should sign the Open Letter https://publiccode.eu/#action
I use every opportunity to speak with people about the campaign. ;-)
I usually give them a sticker after or during the discussion for several reasons: 1. to help them remember the site where they can watch your amazing video and sign the open letter 2. to give them a little present that connects them a bit to the campaign emotionally 3. to increase the chance that the stickers go to some places where others will see.
Gergely, thanks for being part of the PMPC campaign!
My pleasure! I'm happy if I can help. The campaign is truly awesome!
Best, Gergely