Open Source: Westerners vs Easterns

[mzzmuaa]

I have a presentation to do on Open Source technology, and I was interested in variations, by region/school of thought, in production rates and willingness to participate in open source projects.
Do you think that eastern, more collectivist societies are more willing to participate in these projects, as opposed to the individual westerners.
Please share your thoughts, or simply tell me that I have no idea what the hell I'm talking about, so that I can go slit my wrists and subtract more points from my quantified self esteem.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Most of the open source initiatives I've seen outside the US are state-sponsored or by groups of commercial entities like a group of video hardware/software manufacturers, not volunteer work.

The socialist ideal of "free software for the people" seems stronger in well-off Western countries.

I haven't researched this, those are just my impressions of what I've read in the media.

 

[jjones]

I don't know, but it seems to me that the Western world is on the forefront of open source, but this is just anecdotal evidence which leads me to believe that. I'm also wondering what you mean by eastern socialist societies and if you are including Europe in that. I'm definately including western Europe in the West and even eastern Europe, as these days they seem to be more along the path of Western thought. So the East to me, is pretty much Middle Eastern countries (Near East) and Asia (Far East).

Or are you thinking that the comparison you mean should be between North America and Europe? Or are you talking about capitalist societies versus socialist societies?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Many eastern countries chose to pirate closed source programs rather than develop and/or use open source counterparts.

 

[mzzmuaa]

I was thinking to include Russia as an Eastern society.

 

[mzzmuaa]

"The socialist ideal of 'free software for the people' seems stronger in well-off Western countries."
This is what I think as well. This particular subject is very fascinating to me.
Thanks for replies.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Many eastern countries chose to pirate closed source programs rather than develop and/or use open source counterparts.

Thats pretty much what I was thinking but didnt want to say it.
Piracy is a joke here compared to whats going on in Asia.

I would think the only reason that the East likes open-source stuff has nothing to do with a collectivist mindset and is more based in the fact they dont like paying for software.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Many eastern countries chose to pirate closed source programs rather than develop and/or use open source counterparts.

From what I've seen in visits to the Philippines I would say piracy is very commonplace there. Not only in software but music and movies as well. Of course, most salaries are low there as well and when it takes several days wages to pay the retail US$ price of a CD that's going to happen.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Originally posted by: mzzmuaa
I was thinking to include Russia as an Eastern society.

I see Russia as more of a Western society. I even see Russia as more apart of Europe because they are of slavic roots.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: jjones
I'm also wondering what you mean by eastern socialist societies and if you are including Europe in that.

What are you talking about? Europe is the west - it is called the west because Europeans called it that when comparing it to Asia.

The USA is also considered the west by association, but does not define it in the way you imply.

 

[mzzmuaa]

In terms of should be's, shouldn't a society with a weaker economy have, ideally, more people willing to participate in open source? Unless, of course, initial resources to access and develope open source tech is the rate limiting step.

 

[DaveSimmons]

In the lower-income societies the concept of giving away your hard work for free is harder to sell to people

State or industry sponsored open source might not involve any volunteering or donating work, the state or industry may be paying for the development to fill one of its needs such as creating a localized linux operating system to run government PCs.

If 5 video disc manufacturers collaborate on an open source video codec for their hardware, the motive is just to profit (saving themselves DVD patent royalties).

 

[mzzmuaa]

But we're the country that created the Stella awards, how can SES be so strongly correlated with willingness to participate in OS tech?

 

[lyssword]

From economic point of view: no. Because poor eastern countries only now starting to get computers they can afford. Programming takes years and years of experience, and since the total number of programmers with computers/internet is lower in those countries, I'd expect less source code of any kind, open or closed.. That's not even factoring the education people get..
But I wouldn't be surprised if within 10 years this changes..

 

[IdaGno]

Originally posted by: mzzmuaa
Do you think that eastern, more collectivist societies are more willing to participate in these projects, as opposed to the individual westerners.

Well, according to MS headhoncho & spokesperson Steve Ballmer, those waskowee 3rd world types consider even MS's stuff "open source".

PIRATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has told Wall Street analysts that the company might "dial up" the intensity of antipiracy technology baked into Windows Vista as part of an effort to squeeze more revenue from China, India, Brazil, Russia and other emerging markets.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
Piracy is a joke here compared to whats going on in Asia.

And it's people like me who are going to fix that.