Is it acceptable to use proprietary software (platforms) to promote software freedom?

[Mirko Boehm - FSFE]

Hi!

> On 22. Jun 2017, at 22:05, Daniel Pocock <daniel at pocock.pro> wrote:
> 
>> It appears to me as if we conduct this discussion based on what we wish
>> the world would be, instead of based on what the present world is like.
>> In the perfect world, everybody would be using free software, and
>> everybody would know that it is about freedom, not free beer.
>> 
> 
> Does a man who is overweight lose weight by continuing to eat donuts?
> 
> Or does he lose weight by going to the gym and acting like the man he
> wants to become?
> 
> 
>> There would however not be a need for FSFE in this scenario. Our mission
>> is to advocate software freedom. On one hand this means protecting the
>> freedoms we already have, which targets mainly those already using free
>> software. These we may well reach on GNUsocial. Or via an RSS feed. On
>> the other hand, it means educating people and lobbying to politicians
>> that do not use free software, and do not yet understand the need for
>> software freedom. These we won’t reach on free platforms, by definition.
>> 
> 
> But why do you think we would reach them on Facebook or other
> proprietary platforms?  Where is the data to back that up?  How much
> time is put in to it, how much time do people look at those platforms
> and how many other messages are they bombarded with during that time?

I am glad you asked. Overall global GNUsocial users rank in the 1000s-100.000s, as far I know. Maybe somebody has better statistics on that. Here is a good overview of proprietary social media reach: http://www.smartinsights.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-strategy/new-global-social-media-research/ <http://www.smartinsights.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-strategy/new-global-social-media-research/> Of the 3.7 billion internet users, 2.8 are active social media users (see Q5. What is the overall Social Media usage globally?)

However, I don’t think this means much. And I don’t want to get into an argument about lying statistics or whether or not everybody should be using free software. My main point was and is: FSFEs mission (part 2 in the original email) is to advocate, and we won’t achieve that by preaching to the acolytes.

Best,

Mirko.
-- 
Mirko Boehm | mirko at kde.org | KDE e.V.
FSFE Fellowship Representative, FSFE Team Germany
Qt Certified Specialist and Trainer
Request a meeting: https://doodle.com/mirkoboehm

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