On Mon, Jan 21, 2002 at 12:07:21PM -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
| >>>>> "dman" == dman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
| dman> | So I pay - then we immediately get into the tar-pit of why should I
| dman> | pay and no one else does.
|
| dman> 'cause you have extra dough to throw around and you want to pay :-)
|
| That argument doesn't work for very long. Pretty soon I'm the only
| one paying and nothing gets done. Then I don't pay anymore.
I suppose one could reflect upon what money is and what it means. A
few pieces of paper or metal. The only value it has is the value you
place on it. It just so happens that many people place a rather high
value on it, and thus it works as an exchange medium. We all "pay",
though not with cash, when we do something for the project.
| You know - lot of volunteer organizations pay people to have actual
| jobs to support the organization. It's not clear to me that Debian is
| that much different.
The other non-profit organizations I'm connected with do have paid
full-time staff. The difference is that those are full-time staff
with no other day job to put food on their plate. Debian doesn't have
any full-time workers (unless some developer happens to be filthy rich
and decided not to take a day job). The organizations still rely
solely on donations and don't charge for their services.
| I would like to think that the goal of getting Debian more help is
| one that can be universally agreed on. The tough part is how to
| fund such a goal.
The tough part is how to break through people's natural greediness and
selfishness :-).
| dman> | Why not generate that money from CD/ISO/connection sales ?
|
| dman> Go ahead! Charge for connections to your server. (don't worry, I
| dman> won't connect to it)
|
| Precisely the problem. And what if I said I was donating ALL my
| profits to Debian. Would you still avoid it ?
Probably, but it doesn't mean I don't like supporting debian. In
retrospect, though, consider what "money" is (see above).
| I have many times considered starting to sell Debian CD's for
| exactly this purpose, i.e. funnel money back to Debian.
That would be cool. Go for it. I don't even have a cd burner :-(.
| dman> Debian is an example of how things should be. People who have give
| dman> freely, and those who don't have receive. It all goes 'round because
| dman> those who have aren't hording it. The outcome is that everyone "has"
| dman> in the end.
|
| I agree - that's the goal and a worthy one it is.
|
| I guess I'll just write more checks.
|
| Sorry, you won't be getting one :-)
Aww. I was so hopeful too ... ;-).
-D
--
Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
