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Subject:Re: Writing for the Open Source Community From:eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 19 Feb 2003 14:42:39 -0500
<<There are companies with open source business models. But you're wrong about
"a pocket book paying for it somewhere." The fact goes against everything you
learn in business administration classes, but, all the same, there are thousands
of people willing to be involved in the Open Source movement for the reasons I
suggested.
And if anyone doesn't believe that, all I can do is quote Galileo's alleged
recantation of his recantation: "Nonetheless, it moves.">>
I won't argue that the open source community isn't alive and well. However I
believe that the biggest supporters of the movement delude themselves when they
think it is without cost.
The donation of time and effort to any cause does not happen primarily because
people want to be generous. It happens because they can afford to be generous.
The volunteer work given to community groups is available because the volunteers
employers pay then enough so that they can support themselves, provide for their
needs (and happiness), AND they have the desire to share that wealth and the
love of whatever it is they are volunteering for.
Without good old business is for profit corporations paying programmers enough
money and treating them well enough that they still love what they do for a
living, or whatever company paying their employee so that they can afford a
computer and go home a dabble in programming, the open source community would
not exist at all.
Your answer has really verified my opinion of Open Source. If you don't already
have a day job (or need to build a portfolio), don't bother.
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