Framework is looking for Linux Community Ambassadors!
community.frame.work
Framework is looking for Linux Community Ambassadors! We are looking for active members of the Linux community who frequently visit Linux and open-source events throughout the year to help us connect with the larger Linux community. Our volunteer ambassadors will attend local Linux and open-source events, meet with other Framework laptop users and potential community members, answer questions, gather feedback, and showcase Framework laptops and parts to those interested. Ambassadors will be in...
  • SavvyWolf@pawb.socialEnglish
    1714·
    4 months ago

    I agree there’s a lot of problems with unpaid internships and work and such, but I don’t think this is that bad?

    It feels like “hey, if you really like our product and want to show it off, we can send you information and merch, and put you in touch with higher ups.”

    I’d complain if Microsoft or Google started doing this, because they are huge megacorps with deep pockets, but Framework seems like a small company that can’t really afford huge marketing departments. If people want to devote their time to a cause they beleive in, more power to them.

    They also aren’t doing it with the promise or threat of something, which is an issue with a lot of unpaid work. The people they’re targeting know exactly what they are getting into, and that they are doing it for their own reasons.

    • Sentient Loom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      3246·
      4 months ago

      a cause they beleive in

      profitable companies are causes now

      Profitable companies don’t get to have “volunteers.” Non-profits and charities get to have those. This is data collection for product development, and advertising for products.

      This is a reason for me to not buy a Framework laptop.

      • SavvyWolf@pawb.socialEnglish
        351·
        4 months ago

        Fix Consumer Electronics

        We know consumer electronics can be better for you and for the environment. Unlike most products, ours are open for you to repair and upgrade.

        That’s the “cause” that people believe in. And the volunteers that they are looking for are those that think Framework are the way to accomplish it. Realistically, that problem can’t be solved by a non-profit - Materials, logistics and R&D can’t be done by volunteers. So a corporation is the only reasonable choice for the goal they want to accomplish.

        I’m sure they would love to be able to pay all the people that will volunteer, but they likely just don’t have the money. So it’s either give volunteers something for helping out, or just do nothing and ignore them.

      • Creat@discuss.tchncs.de
        242·
        4 months ago

        You might want to actually read the article, cause that’s completely missing the point of the program, and ignoring all context. As with all things, context matters.

        It’s a free market though. You can just buy from the wonderful companies that are Dell or Lenovo instead. Don’t try to look to closely at them, or you won’t be able to but a laptop ever again.

      • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
        22·
        4 months ago

        I think the jury is still out on whether Framework can be profitable. And by that definition, literally asking someone what product you want them to make is data collection.

        I’m not a fan of a for-profit organisation having unpaid workers, but I get it if they want to see an otherwise unprofitable, yet passionate demographic. If they can compensate the person in other ways like was mentioned above (merch, contact with decision makers, possibly info on future products) then there is some exchange happening there and maybe that’s worth it to the right person.

  • carzian@lemmy.ml
    101·
    4 months ago

    Like many others, I have mixed feelings on this. If anyone is stopping by and doesn’t want to read through the linked forum thread, this is frameworks goal:

    This isn’t a program to get people to go to conferences and rep Framework, it’s a program to give people who are already going to conferences and showing off their Framework some swag and opportunities to talk with the team. It’s not assigning work, it’s just saying thank you to people who are excited about Framework and active in the Linux community.

    • Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      411·
      4 months ago

      That is how they should have described it right away, nobody would have been upset about it.

  • baseless_discourse@mander.xyz
    60·
    4 months ago

    From my read, this is not even for marketing, but mainly for feedback to improve framework products. Framework will also have merch packages for the ambassador.

    These ambassadors would attend linux conferences anyways, framework just want them to communicate to frameworks when anyone have any feedback.

    I am okay with this.

    • ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net
      2·
      4 months ago

      Oh nice!

      Then it’s really just a bad name. Volunteer ambassador implies a lot of other responsibilities.

      Other industries call it like VIP or Insiders Club. And their responsibilities for being a part of it is to also share the excitement of the product.

  • ramenu@lemmy.mlEnglish
    421·
    4 months ago

    I can understand why this may be a issue to some people. I think if they asked Windows users this, there wouldn’t be as much of a strong reaction to this. Maybe it comes off as exploiting the good will of the Linux community, but I can’t read minds.

    I’m personally ok with this. If someone willingly volunteers and enjoys doing this, then what’s the problem? But again, I’m not sure if that’s the core issue at hand here.

    • tabular@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      4 months ago

      Not passing judgement at this volunteering specifically but willingly doing something doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no problems. It could still be exploitative.

      • markstos@lemmy.world
        191·
        4 months ago

        Framework clarified they are looking for people who already own Frameworks and are already attending Linux events and happy to talk to people about their laptop. They’re not really asking people to do anything additional, but they will be giving them some free merchandise.

  • EccTM@lemmy.mlEnglish
    35·
    4 months ago

    What I feel would be acceptable:

    If you’re proud of your Framework laptop and want to brag about it, we’ll give you some swag for free that you can show off with when you’re out and about!

    What this looked like to me:

    If you’re attending a conference we’d be paid to attend, but can’t go to, will you show off your Framework laptop to attendees in an effort to convince them to buy one from us too, and we’ll send you some stickers?

    The issue isn’t even what they’re asking for, but how their asking it.

    • Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      81·
      4 months ago

      Ubuntu has had ambassadors for a very long time, the first is essentially how they did it. Also, local events was mostly things like LUG meetings or actual events in the area.

      This seems very poorly conceived and exploitative. Or at the very least, very poorly communicated.

  • CMDR_Horn@lemmy.world
    34·
    4 months ago

    Send me a laptop and I’ll spend a few hours a week helping on your forums or even tickets. But no one should work for free

    • IllNess@infosec.pub
      14·
      4 months ago

      I don’t have a Framework Laptop, can I still apply? Our ambassadors need to be active users and owners of Framework Laptop(s)

      I wonder if volunteer ambassadors have to report to someone and if they have deadlines…

  • superkret@feddit.org
    4412·
    4 months ago

    If you’re working for a privately owned for-profit corporation, you’re not a volunteer.

  • gfom@lemmy.worldEnglish
    30·
    4 months ago

    They could’ve worded it better, and make it clearer in the first couple of sentences that this is intended for owners of FWs who already go to these events.

    I had bigger issues with, say, Ubisoft and JGL getting artist to work for exposure on Beyond Good and Evil 2 back when that was a thing.

    But I also 100% that it feels like asking for free labour, intended or not.

    • Codename_goose@sh.itjust.works
      101·
      4 months ago

      Your second link is honestly should be a sticky on a lot of communities and I try to always show people that video to illustrate how hard things are for people.

  • shirro@aussie.zoneEnglish
    291·
    4 months ago

    I have a Framework 13" DIY running Linux. It is functional. I am reasonably confident I will be able to buy replacements for anything that breaks which is important to me. It is well designed for repair and upgrade but other devices offer better price/performance/features. If you are on a tight budget and care about the environment buy used.

    • reddit_sux@lemmy.world
      83·
      4 months ago

      If you are on a tight budget

      Not for tight budgets

      Sorry i didn’t read the whole statement

      • shirro@aussie.zoneEnglish
        71·
        4 months ago

        I purchased in December 2022. I have not needed to buy any replacement parts but availability appears good.

        At the same time I bought one of my kids the cheapest MSI laptop I could find for school. I just learned some of the keys on the MSI have been working intermittently. I have no idea what to do with it. We didn’t value a laptop for running Microsoft Word very highly and spent the savings on linux desktop upgrades. I can’t say it was the wrong choice. With the Framework it is trivial to check the connector or order a replacement but there was a substantial price difference.

        Out of selfishness I would like people to keep buying Framework so they keep their replacement parts stocked but blind brand loyalty is stupid. People don’t need remuneration to engage in a hobby but if they are working for a company then unpaid labour is generally an abuse.

  • communism@lemmy.ml
    23·
    4 months ago

    Hm. I don’t have anything against volunteer roles (there’s a difference between volunteer roles and “unpaid work”, “unpaid work” implies a form of coercion—if it’s a volunteer role you can say no with no punishment or consequence), but the way it’s described, e.g. the implied expectation of conducting yourself professionally at Linux conferences, makes it sound like it will have quite a bit more responsibility than most volunteer roles in the Linux community. And Framework isn’t a nonprofit; they produce and sell commodities, so they should be able to pay their own workers.

    I’m not rioting over it, I don’t ultimately care too much and if people want to volunteer for this role that’s their choice. I think I’d prefer they paid these ambassadors but ultimately if you don’t want to do this for free there’s not really anything coercing you into doing it, so.

  • colourlesspony@pawb.social
    242·
    4 months ago

    I think the “Showcasing Framework Laptops” is what rubs me the wrong way. I like the idea of trying to get feedback and learn the need of real linux users but anything that qualifies as marketing should be paid.

  • woelkchen@lemmy.world
    193·
    4 months ago

    I don’t have a Framework Laptop, can I still apply?

    Our ambassadors need to be active users and owners of Framework Laptop(s)

    That’s pathetic. In place of financial compensation, the least they could do is to give Framework notebooks away. Doesn’t even have to be a gift right away. There could be strings attached. “On loan first but you can keep it after X amount of time.”