[Linux-aus] Marketing Linux

[Andrew Pam]

linuxaus.1.tracyanne at spamgourmet.com wrote:
>>>> Is there a point of racing a budget team?
> 
>     Publicity. Publicity from the race itself. Publicity from the fact 
>     that this is a community effort, promoting a Community based OS.
> 
>     The very fact that it's NOT a corporate sponsored car. The very 
>     fact that a community of FOSS user have attempted to raise the 
>     money through donations, is a story in and of itself, that should 
>     generate far more publicity than the actual race.

I've read Penguin Pete's theories that the Tux500 fundraising may in 
fact be a criminal scam.  I'm willing to assume that some or all of the 
people involved actually have good intentions until proven otherwise, 
but I still have the following concerns:

1. This is a poor choice of sporting event.
2. This is apparently a very poor choice of driver.
3. The time period for fundraising is way too short.
4. The community relations are nothing short of disastrous.

For those and other reasons, I and apparently many other people are very 
concerned about this completely half-assed attempt which IMHO does not 
show anyone involved in a good light.  Anyone who genuinely has the best 
interests of the Linux/FOSS community at heart would be well served by 
learning from the experience and trying again later with more planning 
and consultation rather than continuing to bang the drum to try and 
raise funds for this specific event.

Regards,
	Andrew