OUTLINE OF PROPOSAL Re: [osol-mktg] Re: [osol-discuss] Re: Mascot

[Dennis Clarke]

On 7/15/05, Claire Giordano <claire.giordano at sun.com> wrote:
> Hey everyone:
> 
> Several of you have suggested that we put together an OpenSolaris mascot
> contest, which I think it is a great idea.

Somehow a contest doesn't feel like a "discussion".  It feels like the
opinion of three people will determine something long long term. 
Without discussion.  I think that the contest is a good way to get
started.  Perhaps the result would be two options at the end.

Then these two are posted to the world and then the community can take
a democratic vote.

That feels like a "choice" and a "discussion".

One big problem with the democratic process is that a lot of time can
go by with lots of discussion but no real action taken.  If stagnation
like that takes place then perhaps the CAB can stand up and say
something decisive.  Democracy in the absence of real leadership often
fails horribly as people will not be motivated or attracted to a
particular decision.  This is why authority often stems from power and
control as opposed to free "choice" and long never ending discussions.
 [ Often because of posts by guys like me with free form core dumps
from my brain. ]

So someone had to stand up and do something.

Thank you Claire.  This project needs a mascot.

Now how to pick it is yet another battle.

Because this is a community with a really big corporation bolted onto
the side of it there is a fine line to walk with that whole authority
via power or legal drama issue ( i.e: IP rights anyone?). Somehow it
feels "wrong" in a fuzzy way to have three strangers dictate what the
mascot will be for such a critical long term project.

But something has to be done.  We need a mascot.  We have some options
but no process.

And no clear leadership on the matter.

So unless someone has a stroke of genius and lightning strikes then
you have hit a viable mechanism to achieve action.  Pick a mascot via
the ol' contest game.  Roll out that old chestnut.  With the option
for some revolt from people.

So consider my name as a volunteer judge.  I promise not to simply go
with my friend Rich Teer and his dog named judge. :-)

If anyone thinks I have no artistic merit then they can let me know.  

Sorry for the long winding posts but sometime I feel like a fuzzy
thing like this needs to have a brain dump with feelings in it.  This
is not a one plus one equals two kind of geek thing with obvious
answers or a deterministic process.  Its a "oh wow this is nice" and
"I like that" and no no no you can't hang that picture on my wall and
often times a "that's just wrong". :-)

So I fully expect a real process when it comes to picking a mascot.

Dennis
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