[GNUz] Re: SFD Mind map update and Support...

[Rik Tindall]

Greetings all recipients, esp. Canterbury* *Linuxers.

My belated apologies, explanation, reverse-spin, & SFD damage control, 
concerning this post.

It was a difficult matter at the time, and I allowed the dust to settle 
before offering a reply - in the interests of mail peace and project 
progress. But whatever damage may have been done in people's minds to 
Software Freedom Day <http://www.softwarefreedomday.org> back then needs 
now to be undone. And very much so.

I thank Don for allowing space for this resolution to begin.

Don Gould wrote 10/07/06 16:02:
> Afternoon All,
>
> You will find that there is a new update to the mind map I published 
> last week here: 
> http://www.tcn.bowenvale.co.nz/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,16/
>
> This will be the last update I will be providing and I withdraw my 
> support from this project.

Trouble began with Don's Mindmap because it initially contained some 
fictitious account of discussion held at a GNUz SFD workshop the 
previous evening. No notice of this minuting was given, or feedback 
allowed for - it just went straight online as a new work agenda, without 
consultation. This was Don's first contact with SFD, so he must be 
forgiven for not understanding that we already had a functioning team, 
sponsorship, and systems of two years' standing. An opportunity to 
participate was provided, but this went way off track.

The basic problem was Don's use of M$ tools and telephone pressure to 
accelerate SFD as content for his M$-based business. I explained the 
necessity of 'walking the talk' in the *nix game, but was completely 
ignored. It quickly became clear that Don was contesting for leadership 
of the local SFD project, on illegitimate grounds. Don placed me in the 
invidious position of having to contradict his records publicly, and 
initiate a potential libel. The pointlessness of such action is why this 
response was delayed, after several private resolution attempts.

> In the past 72 hours I have found that there is much religious debate 
> over these issues.

Not true. There is shallow mystification around some*nix, which I will 
address elsewhere. Misleadership is harmful.

> I have been threatened over issues pertaining to this project by 
> members of the community.

Not by me. I left one message on Don's answer-phone - after an afternoon 
of him not returning my calls, still trying to connect SFD with Don's 
Riccarton work - explaining my recommendation that he take the potential 
libel off the web as a starting point. There was no temper or abuse in 
that message, which Don has probably retained - for verification 
purposes. The claim is exaggeration, I believe.

> I have also done quite a bit more research into the project and found 
> that stake holders in the project aren't interested in the views of 
> members of the global community.
>
> See:
> http://www.sf-day.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=119
> http://www.sf-day.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130
> http://www.sf-day.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=124
>
> Additionally I sent a number of emails and have received no response.

I know Don is pretty sincere, but there may a deficit in his commitment 
to *nix-based projects. For many foot-in-both-campers, criticism of 
GNU/Linux is almost as valuable as skill with it - for justifying 
software choices. The SFD forum neglect was rapidly remedied, in the 
days of that critique.

>
> Personally I am feeling quite shaken at present as I write this due to 
> messages that have been left for me on my answering machine.

I was too. Lots of people have invested quite a lot in SFD already, and 
to see such a valuable *nix project brand undermined in this way is very 
disturbing. If there is substance to Don's complaint he should start 
listing the perpetrators, so we can sort it out.

> I have received no less than 3 abusive emails with demands to change 
> my views or face concequences.

There were detailed and collegial email entreaties from myself, before I 
spelt the situation out to Don. I stand by every word conveyed to him, 
including a moment of anger. Options were always provided as to how Don 
might merge his business model into the extant local SFD. But all of 
Don's approach was to fulfill the role of SFD team leader himself, and 
to make life difficult for me continuing in that role.

There are lessons in this 'risk of public organising' for all of 
SFD-global: some are going to appreciate your doing the promotional 
work, and some are going to dislike it. SFD team leaders must take this 
exposure to aggravation into account, and develop moderate means for 
dissipating it. In Don's case this was still being learned by me.

> I wish those with interest in SFD luck with promoting their said cause 
> in the global community.
>
> Cheers Don

Thankyou Don. I retain hope that we can integrate an SFD contribution 
from you somehow, sometime.

All the best,

Rik Tindall


pp SFD Team Christchurch NZ