Erik Moeller wrote:
On 9/8/06, Robert Scott Horning robert_horning@netzero.net wrote:
For myself, I strongly suspect anything that starts with "students in the developing world" and doesn't acknowledge disadvantaged individuals even in supposedly "first world" countries to be more or less a scam and something to stay away from. If their overall goal is to bring benefits to people in specific countries but also benefit other people in the process, I'm much more likly to support such a general project.
Of course, that is why I also consider the OLPC project to be something of a scam as well, on the same grounds.
I think that's an unhelpful position. When you start by calling a project "more or less a scam", you will be less likely to change hearts and minds than by simply stating your position clearly (if forcefully). The OLPC folks I know are good people who are likely to listen to constructive suggestions. Also, we're not above making similar mistakes. IMHO, the language in Jimmy's personal appeal for donations, for example, (literally: "I'm doing this for the child in Africa") could have used considerable polish.
It was my personal statement. I meant it. I don't think it needs polish, thank you very much.
--Jimbo