[LAU] poll : Advertising vs Linux Audio

[Alex Stone]

On Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:00:59 +0200 (CEST)
  "Patrick Shirkey" <pshirkey at boosthardware.com> wrote:
> 
> On Mon, April 23, 2012 2:06 am, Fernando Lopez-Lezcano wrote:
>> On 04/22/2012 04:04 AM, Patrick Shirkey wrote:
>>>
>>> On Sun, April 22, 2012 12:52 pm, Jeremy Jongepier wrote:
>>>> On 04/22/2012 05:13 AM, Patrick Shirkey wrote:
>>>>> Do other people here have any strong opinions on the usefulness of
>>>>> advertising in the Linux Audio community?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yes. I completely adhere to Robin's stance.
>>>>
>>>
>>> You do realise that many of the tools being produced by the Linux 
>>>Audio
>>> Community are being used in the advertising industry which makes us 
>>>all
>>> complicit in supporting it to start with.
>>>
>>> IMO we cannot avoid that fact that advertising and marketing is a 
>>>very
>>> crucial component to global industry which enables the corporate 
>>>world
>>> to
>>> continue to function. We should seek to manage our own channel and
>>> therefore the message and brand rather than avoid it all together 
>>>out of
>>> some ridiculous fear of becoming Evil.
>>
>> Sorry, it is not ridiculous at all.
>>
> 
> The liklihood of the Linux Audio community succumbing to the evils 
>of the
> mighty dollar is pretty ridiculous. We have too many checks and 
>balances
> and are not afraid to call a spade a spade. We are certainly not 
>beholden
> to anyone else's agenda afaict.
> 
> 
>>>We may even make enough money in
>>> the process to pay some of our community members and help them to be
>>> productive and motivated.
>>
>> Managing our channel? Sorry, I don't quite understand. Do you mean
>> advertising our message on __other__ sites? What is "our message"?
>>
> 
> The message is whatever we want it to be. If the message is that 
>Linux
> Audio is *only* interested in non profit, volunteer or barely 
>breaking
> even financial support from educational institutes then I guess we 
>have
> already defined it and there is nothing more to be done.
> 
> There is more to this community than just a bunch of well resourced
> academics and semi retired technical experts with enough time on 
>their
> hands to give away everything for free.
> 
> 
>>> If we continue to avoid the whole issue that is exactly what the 
>>>"Evil"
>>> marketing companies and corporations would like for us to do so that
>>> they
>>> can have complete control over the message, brand, content and 
>>>income
>>> stream...
>>
>> It would seem to me the issue is not being avoided at all (witness 
>>the
>> long thread I'm still reading), it is just that not all people in 
>>this
>> list - which you asked for feedback - agree with your view of the 
>>world
>> and what linuxaudio.org should/could/must be.
>>
> 
> That's fine that people disagree with me. I knew that before I asked 
>the
> list for feedback. I am seeking to find out how far it goes. Has it 
>been a
> conscious choice over the years to avoid the marketing industry as 
>much as
> possible or is it simply due to lack of 
>expertise/interest/motivation.
> 
> One thing I don't understand is why some people think that taking 
>steps to
> make Linux Audio more attractive to advertisers in terms of 
>providing
> access to a professionally run channel for businesses that would 
>like to
> associate their brand with the Linux Audio platform is found to be 
>so
> distasteful.
> 
> Are we expected to believe that academia will provide all that we 
>need and
> therefore nothing else shall be required? What of the people who 
>would
> like to earn a living from the platform if possible are they simply 
>on
> their own or are we as a commmunity able to support them in their 
>goals
> too?
> 
> 
> 
>> Linuxaudio.org currently has (AFAIK) complete control of its brand,
>> content and message. It is being kindly hosted by vt.edu and run by
>> volunteers. But of course I don't know the details. Advertising, if
>> anything, will dilute the control of the brand content and message - 
>>the
>> way I see it of course, you will disagree. As everything else in the
>> world, who puts the money eventually controls the message, not the 
>>other
>> way around.
>>
> 
> The Linux Audio Consortium was originally setup to promote and 
>support
> Audio related businesses who seek to work with the Linux platform. 
>What it
> has become is primarily a means of promoting academic research and a 
>"non
> profit" agenda.
> 
> 
>> If advertising is accepted I presume linuxaudio.org will have to be
>> hosted somewhere else (out of the .edu domain). Then advertising 
>>becomes
>> a requirement for the survival of linuxaudio.org. No advertising, no
>> hosting money. The more linuxaudio.org depends on advertising to 
>>run,
>> the more it will be subject to control of its message.
>>
> 
> That is why I have setup a new domain. linuxaudio.com was already 
>taken
> and would cost $3130 if anyone wants to purchase it. I think the
> linux-audio.com domain is actually better suited as it provides a 
>bit more
> distinction so there should be less confusion from members of the
> community. When it comes to people from outside looking in then they
> probably won't make a distinction. But that is not necessarily a bad 
>thing
> as we can become "greater than the sum of our parts".
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Patrick Shirkey
> Boost Hardware Ltd
> _______________________________________________
> Linux-audio-user mailing list
> Linux-audio-user at lists.linuxaudio.org
> http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user


I think you've got it pretty covered with this, Patrick.


I respectfully suggest that the consortium consider a charter of sorts 
that advertisers get, outlining the principles of linuxaudio, in terms 
of making sure advertising isn't used as a stick to demand development 
go in one direction or another, and Fernando's concerns dont come to 
pass. He makes a good point, and it should be considered in relation 
to further discussions, imho.

I don't think commercial consortiums allow a free for all when it 
comes to accepting all ads regardless of style, and the linuxaudio 
community is in a unique position that profit doesn't drive decision 
making, nor do i think the linuxaudio consortium, replete with common 
sense as it is, would allow it.

 From the tone of the comments, it seems the majority consider garish, 
excessively animated, or obscenely coloured ads to be too much.