From: Mark Hubbart <discordantus@...>
Date: 2005-11-18T12:25:25+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby not commercial, right?

On 11/17/05, boscomonkey@gmail.com <boscomonkey@gmail.com> wrote:> I'm trying to organize a Ruby Meetup group in San Francisco> (http://ruby.meetup.com/6/) and applied to the SF Public Library to use> one of their small meeting rooms. They turned us down because they have> deemed Ruby to be a product for commercial gain. The analogy that the> SFPL contact person used is that one can walk into a bookstore and find> a book on Ruby; I countered that one can also find a book on> childrearing.>> The SFPL Meeting Room Community Use Rules (http://sfpl.org/libraryl> ocations/mtgrms/rules.htm) states [emphasis mine]:>>     "No outside group or organization using a Library meeting room> shall: 1) charge an admission fee or solicit donations, 2) sell or> ***promote any material or service for private profit or gain***, 3)> engage in fund raising activities, (excepting those groups who have> contracted with the Library to do so in support of Library programs and> activities).">> I'm arguing that because Ruby is an Open Source project, there is no> private profit or gain when Ruby is utilized versus when another> programming language is utilized. As opposed to using Microsoft Excel> versus Lotus 1-2-3; in which case, Microsoft stands to make money from> Excel licenses.>> Can anyone think of better arguments? I think mine is a tad subtle for> non-computer people.
Something comparing Ruby coding to writing in English might be best,since this is a public library. Maybe use Open Source to appeal totheir free speech tendencies.
What if someone wanted to start an "Author's Club" in the library,where people who enjoy writing English can get together and talk aboutit? I doubt there would be much of a problem with that, even thoughyou can get paid to write.
You want to start a "Ruby Author's Club", where those who enjoywriting Ruby code can get together and talk about it. They shouldn'thave a problem with that, even though you can get paid (if you'relucky!) to write Ruby code.
cheers,Mark