this is kinda old news but i couldn't find any previous mention and i thought it deserved a little publicity.

the Electronic Frontier Foundation, defender of our digital rights, is looking for volunteers who know unix and perl to help them out with a variety of web/CGI projects.

if you care at all about the abuse of copyright, software patents, the DMCA, the SSSCA, or other assaults on the rights of computer users, you probably already know that the EFF is a worthy charity. now, if you don't have money to donate, but you've got some free time and want to hack some perl, you can help out. if you don't like what they do, don't volunteer. it's that simple.

any other good similar volunteer options out there for socially minded coders with skillz and time but not much cash flow?

anders pearson

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: EFF seeks perl volunteers
by staunch (Pilgrim) on Feb 05, 2002 at 03:43 UTC
    In my opinion the EFF is a great organization that does a lot of good, and it'd be a lot of fun to help them out. But I don't think asking individuals to devote a lot of time to long term projects is going to be very successful for them. Seems like they've already been burned by this: Our largest downfall with volunteer tech help is that it quietly fizzles out and projects grind to a halt, 9 times out of 10, thus the stress on completion commitment.

    It would be much easier for people to contribute if they were to open up each project separately at a place like Sourceforge and let a team of people work together to complete each.

    Staunch

[reply]
Re: EFF seeks perl volunteers
by Necos (Friar) on Feb 04, 2002 at 21:36 UTC
    Even if the EFF has been pro spam, they have, in fact, supported the "common folk" against corporate abuse (not all of it has been successful, but at least they try). If I do recall (please correct me if I'm wrong), they helped to defend 2600 in the DeCSS suit (I don't remember if they won the case or not).

    Unfortunately, my Unix skills are still novice at best, and my Perl skill is maybe moderate (Intermediate might be a better word). I know the EFF wants pros for their work, so let's hope that some hardcore perl/unix hackers get into the mix.

    Theodore Charles III
    Network Administrator
    Los Angeles Senior High
    4650 W. Olympic Blvd.
    Los Angeles, CA 90019
    323-937-3210 ext. 224
    email->secon_kun@hotmail.com
[reply]
Re: EFF seeks perl volunteers
by strredwolf (Chaplain) on Feb 04, 2002 at 21:05 UTC
    Did someone forget to mention the EFF supports spammers and not the rights of the spam victims? Check news.admin.net-abuse.email off of Google for why -- they've been in the press for pro-spam.

    --
    $Stalag99{"URL"}="http://stalag99.keenspace.com";

[reply]

      i don't think the issue is as clearcut as you make it out to be.

      i can only assume you're referring to their opposition to certain kinds of anti-spam tactics. i'm not sure i personally agree with them, but they're hardly "pro-spam". eg, a quick browse through their "Net Abuse: Spam (Junk E-Mail, UBE)" archive would tend to give one the impression that they're at least somewhat "anti-spam".

      before you donate money or time to any charity, it's a good idea to do your own research on them and make sure you support what they do. if their views are too disparate from your own, then find someone else to help out.

      anders pearson

[reply]

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