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<TITLE>RE: Open Source Values</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>I'm uncomfortable lumping the smorgasbord of people, projects, and licenses together and slapping the OSS label on them. And as everyone has a different one, I'm unsure of the merit of discussing value systems.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>That said, OSS from the legal perspective seems to be about legal frameworks competing to preserve the equivalent of free-range intellectual property. A Commons of the mind that is shored up by a functioning system of community standards and social practices. Where the only coercion is the coercion to share and share alike.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>All of that provides an incredible opportunity to anyone with a mind and the desire to use it to:</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>o create</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>o scratch an itch</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>o learn from others</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>o avoid ideological ax grinding</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>o avoid reinventing the wheel</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>IMHO, the best projects are the ones that foster a self-supporting community that is welcoming and friendly, but moreover is a meritocracy focused on actually doing the task at hand. Smart people clump together. When a bunch of smart and productive people clump together under an OSS license amazing things can happen.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>There is a feeling of awe that I get, when following the creative efforts of extremely capable people. It makes you feel like a child. I can hear myself saying: I want to do that. I want to be that good at something. I want to make a difference.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>--</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Garrett Goebel</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>IS Development Specialist</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>ScriptPro Direct: 913.403.5261</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>5828 Reeds Road Main: 913.384.1008</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Mission, KS 66202 Fax: 913.384.2180</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>www.scriptpro.com garrett at scriptpro dot com</FONT>
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