#ElsaGLUG va "a tutto GAS"!

#ElsaGLUG va "a tutto GAS"!

Siamo stati invitati alla tavola rotonda di "Lucciana a Tutto GAS" a Casole d’Elsa (SI) sul tema dell'Economia Circolare il 10 Maggio.

Lucciana a tutto GAS 2026 | Gas Lucciana

(gaslucciana.it)

In un contesto dedicato ai Gruppi d'Acquisto Solidale, porteremo il punto di vista del #softwarelibero, poiché la lotta all'obsolescenza e l'uso di software etico contribuiscono alla sostenibilità ambientale

Se sei in zona, passa a trovarci!

#Linux #Sostenibilità #DigitalSovereignty #Ewaste #Toscana

@elsaglug How good does Facebook match your mission?

@pino Seems strange, but we’ve been on FB since 2011 because that’s where our local community still hangs out.
We use it as an outreach "outpost" to inform people about our activities and, more importantly, to advocate for the transition to ethical platforms.

Mastodon is our main channel and where we reach the Linux community, but FB is where we find the people who don't know about Linux and FOSS yet. To grow the movement locally, we have to be visible where the public is.

@elsaglug I know that argument. But, well, if you want to refer to something with maximum contradiction to your mission, that's FB. There is nothing more contradictory. At some point, the "where the public is" argument is overloaded. It steals really all the credibility. Neither your enemies nor your target audience can believe any of your statements this way. You know what I mean?

@pino I totally understand, but we choose to be an exit ramp, not a closed club. We don't want to be purists, we want to help local people with tech issues. Even if they use Windows or FB or similar, we want them to come. Our mission is to inform people there's something different (and in our opinion, better) and we offer help to learn how to use it. I understand your point, though, what are your alternatives to reach people in small cities in Tuscany without mainstream channels?

@pino @elsaglug

YOU: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

The point is, how do you advocate and reach out to people in a rural province with low density population? The point is to inform as much people as possible isn't it?

Nirvana fallacy - Wikipedia

(en.wikipedia.org)

@elsaglug

Well, at first, let me say that I hear the same argument since 15 years now, but I don't see any successes. Maybe your strategy is slower in making people understand than counter forces to undo that?!

Then, sure, nowadays (after you've screwed up with it for 15 years), there are difficult cases. Deal with them in a pragmatic way, but without betraying everything you are fighting for on that road. Otherwise the fight is pointless.

@elsaglug As long as FB and all these similar services are what they are today, it just doesn't matter whether people have Linux or Windows installed on their PCs. It's just irrelevant. I know, it's a brutal truth. But don't hate me for expressing it.

@rturchi @elsaglug

Yeah, I hear that since 15 years now. The thing is: Your strategy so far just utterly failed, didn't it? I hear you doing your pragmatic thing, reaching out to people and all that, but I never see any results of that!

@rturchi @elsaglug

Your target audience basically lets you install Linux on their old PCs that they don't use anymore anyways, as a greenwashing show, so they can feel better, without sacrificing anything. That's the same what the industry does when they offer some "feel good" alternatives that are in fact mostly the classic product with a new branding and a new packing.

@elsaglug What additional people do you reach with facebook ads on your flyer? They already found you. They have your flyer in their hand. Why not using facebook strictly for picking people up there? Without bringing them back there once they already found you.

@pino @elsaglug
1) On what basis are you assuming that? The group exists since 2010, it's a little yet established reality that helps people and spread #foss awareness

2) We are open to suggestion on how to improve but avoiding FB just to make your point it's pure elitism in my view. Just as an example, some people discovered us when we posted about #Linux Day on FB

Personally, as an individual my only social is Mastodon but I can understand where your critique comes from

@pino @elsaglug
"Your target audience basically lets you install Linux on their old PCs that they don't use anymore anyways"

Ahah, one of their PC that almost always is their only PC... People nowadays sometimes have just a smartphone, not so common having more than one, just saying

@rturchi @elsaglug What you do is purism. Just from the other side. What would be missing if you strictly pick people up there, but without FB ads on your flyer that bring them back? If someone already found you (i.e. looking at your flyer) and she/he has the urgent need to be on FB again, they'll find their way without your FB ad. But what you communicate is "FB is absolutely fine". And then I doubt there is any reason for putting effort in GNU/Linux/FOSS things.

@pino @elsaglug
I understand your point, we can consider it a possibility to make the approach more frictionless for the oblivious people but you point is still valid, let's agree to disagree...

We hope to attract people and let them be more aware about possible FOSS alternatives overall

@rturchi @elsaglug So you say that FB (and similar) is absolutely fine and there is no reason at all to prevent pushing them further, but on the other hand you want more awareness for FOSS? And that's not fundamentally contradictory in a grotesque way? Okay, let's agree to disagree. I don't get it at all. But of course I wish you all successes possible.