[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux Demo Day 99

[TJ Bell]

Steve Baker wrote:
> 
> MadHat wrote:
> 
> > One question:  Why?  or What is it you want to show John Q Publik?
> 
> I think it will attract interest in Linux just because people are
> going to be curious about something as unusual as this.
> 
> Scenario 1:  You walk into the store, looking for Blarf-for-Windoze
>    v.1.2.3 and some person wanders up and tries to give you a flier,
>    you can't get out of his way and you are polite so you take it.
> 
> Scenario 2:  You walk into the store, looking for Blarf-for-Windoze
>    v.1.2.3 and there is a bunch of exhausted-looking hackers *still*
>    having fun using Linux - there are piles of empty pizza boxes
>    and empty coffee cups everywhere...and a big sign saying
>    "record-setting attempt to write a computer game in 24hrs:
>    3 hours to go!". There is a big projection TV showing the game
>    running - someone invites you to play it, you get to
>    chatting with one of the 'minders' - he gives you a flier.
>    You forget all about Blarf-for-Windoze and buy a cuddly
>    penguin instead.
> 
> Which flier goes into the next trash can without being read?
> 
> Which person thinks that being a part of the Linux
> community could really be a lot of fun?
> 
> Which person comes back on the way out and asks how to get
> Linux?
> 
> Which person joins NTLUG?
> 
> Scenario #1 is *BORING* - you'd have to wear a *TIE* to hand
>             out fliers like that. Linux is NOT BORING.
> 
> Scenario #2 speaks to the hacker culture - to the kinds
>             of people who made Linux. To people who fly to
>             Germany to take their laptops to a picnic and
>             drink beer. To people who try to send back their
>             Win98 CD's for a $5 refund. To people who celebrate
>             the launch of Windoze 98 by cutting up the CD's
>             using them as the fins of rockets and LAUNCHING
>             them. To people with a stoopid penguin as a mascot
>             instead of some kind of four-coloured flag.
> 
> In five years time, succeed or fail, we'll still remember
> what fun this was.  Standing in a store handing out fliers
> is BORING.
> 
> > What is the purpose for having a 24 hour coding session?
> 
> Purpose?   I didn't know I needed one of those?  Let's see:
> Computers - check. Hackers - check.  Pizza - check. Purpose -
> erm, nope - don't see one of those anywhere.
> 
> It's FUN.  It's COOL.   You only live once and you need to
> do stuff like this to stay sane!
> 
> Fellow hackers will *understand*.
> 
> > What will this prove?
> 
> It proves we are alive!  Can you imagine a bunch of
> Windoze users even contemplating something like this?
> 
> > Not that it isn't a cool idea.
> 
> That's the *entire* point.  The cool idea stands by itself.
> The Linux Demo Day event is just the excuse for doing it.

I must agree on all points here...after my physics exam tonight, I'll
drop by the store and ask my GM what he found out about holding it at
Best Buy.  If he says go, I'll ask about the 24hr thing....I'm starting
to agree that these two events should happen on the same day...

-- 
TJ Bell
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