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It can be a bit of a confidence killer when there is an
organization without an address. I've looked all over the Gentoo
website and maybe I'm blind, but I don't see an street address for
the Gentoo project. Strange part is, I want to send them some
money, (not much, but I did get a copy of their discs and I will
have a stab at installing Gentoo in the not too distant future.
So I thought, why not send them some bucks and become a registered
user and support the project.
Trouble is, even though I sent them an email asking where to send
the cheque, I got no response. (I don't put my financial info on
my computer, let alone on the internet, that's why I don't give
them credit card info online), but also, I loose confidence in a
group that doesn't have an address. It seems sort of clandestine
and fly-by-night.
Gentoo, Where are you???

Fred
(Remove FFFf from my email address to reply, if by email).

Uncle Fred wrote:

> It can be a bit of a confidence killer when there is an
> organization without an address. I've looked all over the Gentoo
> website and maybe I'm blind, but I don't see an street address for
> the Gentoo project. Strange part is, I want to send them some
> money, (not much, but I did get a copy of their discs and I will
> have a stab at installing Gentoo in the not too distant future.
> So I thought, why not send them some bucks and become a registered
> user and support the project.
> Trouble is, even though I sent them an email asking where to send
> the cheque, I got no response. (I don't put my financial info on
> my computer, let alone on the internet, that's why I don't give
> them credit card info online), but also, I loose confidence in a
> group that doesn't have an address. It seems sort of clandestine
> and fly-by-night.
> Gentoo, Where are you???
>

Fred, are you trolling? There is a link on the gentoo.org website where you
can donate X amount to Gentoo Technologies, Inc. via PayPal. Please make a
donation. Their bandwidth costs money. PayPal take the first dollar IIRC
so don't be tight.

Styvaen.

Styvaen wrote:
> Uncle Fred wrote:
>
>
>>It can be a bit of a confidence killer when there is an
>>organization without an address. I've looked all over the Gentoo
>>website and maybe I'm blind, but I don't see an street address for
>>the Gentoo project. Strange part is, I want to send them some
>>money, (not much, but I did get a copy of their discs and I will
>>have a stab at installing Gentoo in the not too distant future.
>>So I thought, why not send them some bucks and become a registered
>>user and support the project.
>>Trouble is, even though I sent them an email asking where to send
>>the cheque, I got no response. (I don't put my financial info on
>>my computer, let alone on the internet, that's why I don't give
>>them credit card info online), but also, I loose confidence in a
>>group that doesn't have an address. It seems sort of clandestine
>>and fly-by-night.
>>Gentoo, Where are you???
>>
>
>
> Fred, are you trolling? There is a link on the gentoo.org website where you
> can donate X amount to Gentoo Technologies, Inc. via PayPal. Please make a
> donation. Their bandwidth costs money. PayPal take the first dollar IIRC
> so don't be tight.
>

No I'm not trolling. I don't put my financial information on the
Internet. I just want a snail mail address for Gentoo.

Fred

Uncle Fred wrote:
> Styvaen wrote:
>
>> Uncle Fred wrote:
>>
>>
>>> It can be a bit of a confidence killer when there is an
>>> organization without an address. I've looked all over the Gentoo
>>> website and maybe I'm blind, but I don't see an street address for
>>> the Gentoo project. Strange part is, I want to send them some
>>> money, (not much, but I did get a copy of their discs and I will
>>> have a stab at installing Gentoo in the not too distant future.
>>> So I thought, why not send them some bucks and become a registered
>>> user and support the project.
>>> Trouble is, even though I sent them an email asking where to send
>>> the cheque, I got no response. (I don't put my financial info on
>>> my computer, let alone on the internet, that's why I don't give
>>> them credit card info online), but also, I loose confidence in a
>>> group that doesn't have an address. It seems sort of clandestine
>>> and fly-by-night.
>>> Gentoo, Where are you???
>>>
>>
>>
>> Fred, are you trolling? There is a link on the gentoo.org website
>> where you
>> can donate X amount to Gentoo Technologies, Inc. via PayPal. Please
>> make a
>> donation. Their bandwidth costs money. PayPal take the first dollar
>> IIRC
>> so don't be tight.
>>
>
> No I'm not trolling. I don't put my financial information on the
> Internet. I just want a snail mail address for Gentoo.
>
> Fred
>
Gentoo is NOT an organization with a 'brick and mortar' address. Gentoo
is a group of software developers that keep in contact ONLY via the net.
In fact many other non profit Linux distro's are put together this way,
Debian for example. Maybe these people DO get together face to face
once in a while at a Linux convention, but they mostly communicate via
email and IRC. Get used to it, it's the way of the future.

Ken Scharf wrote:

> Gentoo is NOT an organization with a 'brick and mortar' address. Gentoo
> is a group of software developers that keep in contact ONLY via the net.
> In fact many other non profit Linux distro's are put together this way,
> Debian for example. Maybe these people DO get together face to face
> once in a while at a Linux convention, but they mostly communicate via
> email and IRC. Get used to it, it's the way of the future.

Hmmmmmm: A virtual organization. Yes, that will take a little
getting used to. Maybe I can send them a virtual check. I've
already spent about $10 on ink and paper printing out the
installation handbook.
So they don't even have a treasurer who has an address or a bank
account number where I might send them $20 Aus. from my cabin up
here in the woods of Canada, or my credit card number. I get into
town once in a while and I can count on professional banking
services when I do. I thought there would be a way.
If not, I can find another distro.

Fred

Ken Scharf wrote:
> Gentoo is NOT an organization with a 'brick and mortar' address. Gentoo
> is a group of software developers that keep in contact ONLY via the net.

Well, there *is* Gentoo Technologies, Inc., which owns a lot (all?) of the
copyright for the distro, and then there's talk about transforming Gentoo
in a not-for-profit organisation. Presumably, both Gentoo Technologies and
the new NFPO have / will have some real-world address. And who gets the
money which is donated via paypal? There has to be some real bank account
behind the paypal account, and that account belongs to someone, too.

So, Gentoo is not at all purely virtual. Perhaps Gentoo, Inc is a one-man
shop, but still, it is a very real organization.

Anno.

Styvaen wrote in alt.os.linux.gentoo:

> Uncle Fred wrote:
[snip]
>> Trouble is, even though I sent them an email asking where to send
>> the cheque, I got no response. (I don't put my financial info on
>> my computer, let alone on the internet, that's why I don't give
>> them credit card info online), but also, I loose confidence in a
>> group that doesn't have an address. It seems sort of clandestine
>> and fly-by-night.
>> Gentoo, Where are you???

Maybe there is no street address for Gentoo, it being a cyberspace
project, even though its contributers are probably real people. ;-)

There is not much chance that you will pay Gentoo for a car and then
find that you can not trace Gentoo or the car.

> Fred, are you trolling? There is a link on the gentoo.org website
> where you can donate X amount to Gentoo Technologies, Inc. via PayPal.
> Please make a donation. Their bandwidth costs money. PayPal take
> the first dollar IIRC so don't be tight.

There are good reasons for not wanting to transmit sensitive data
over the 'net. There are plenty of people who claim to have had
problems with identity theft and/or credit card fraud - even with
PayPal.

--
Sig goes here...
Peter D.

Peter D. wrote:

[snip]

> There is not much chance that you will pay Gentoo for a car and then
> find that you can not trace Gentoo or the car.
>
Yes, that's true, and it's not a lot of money. However, if I
don't pay them something, and I'd like to, then can I still get
updates and fully participate in the forums and everywhere? I'm
guessing that this would not be possible.
This was my problem with Mandrake 9.1. I got the discs from the
"Computer Helper Guy" and a while ago found that I can't get
updates. I'm no longer authorized. So I'm looking to change and
after seaching for a distro to my liking, it's between Gentoo and
Libranet. If Gentoo is going to be not updateable for me, then
it'll be very sad, but I'll return the discs to the nice gentleman
that burned them for me and maybe give him the installation manual
I've already printed out as a peace offering.
Then I'm back looking at Libranet or maybe one of the more widely
circulated distros, and spending some more $s.

--
Fred
(Remove FFFf from my emailaddress to reply, if by email).

Uncle Fred wrote:

> Peter D. wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
>> There is not much chance that you will pay Gentoo for a car and then
>> find that you can not trace Gentoo or the car.
>>
> Yes, that's true, and it's not a lot of money. However, if I
> don't pay them something, and I'd like to, then can I still get
> updates and fully participate in the forums and everywhere? I'm
> guessing that this would not be possible.
> This was my problem with Mandrake 9.1. I got the discs from the
> "Computer Helper Guy" and a while ago found that I can't get
> updates. I'm no longer authorized. So I'm looking to change and
> after seaching for a distro to my liking, it's between Gentoo and
> Libranet. If Gentoo is going to be not updateable for me, then
> it'll be very sad, but I'll return the discs to the nice gentleman
> that burned them for me and maybe give him the installation manual
> I've already printed out as a peace offering.
> Then I'm back looking at Libranet or maybe one of the more widely
> circulated distros, and spending some more $s.
>

You can update Gentoo w/o ever paying anybody anything. There's no
"cut-off time". Contributions are always welcome, but not at all
required.

--

edjlb@yahoo.com wrote:
> Uncle Fred wrote:

>>Yes, that's true, and it's not a lot of money. However, if I
>>don't pay them something, and I'd like to, then can I still get
>>updates and fully participate in the forums and everywhere? I'm
>>guessing that this would not be possible.
>>This was my problem with Mandrake 9.1. I got the discs from the
>>"Computer Helper Guy" and a while ago found that I can't get
>>updates. I'm no longer authorized. So I'm looking to change and
>>after seaching for a distro to my liking, it's between Gentoo and
>>Libranet. If Gentoo is going to be not updateable for me, then
>>it'll be very sad, but I'll return the discs to the nice gentleman
>>that burned them for me and maybe give him the installation manual
>>I've already printed out as a peace offering.
>>Then I'm back looking at Libranet or maybe one of the more widely
>>circulated distros, and spending some more $s.
>>
>
>
> You can update Gentoo w/o ever paying anybody anything. There's no
> "cut-off time". Contributions are always welcome, but not at all
> required.
>

Now, you see, THAT'S SUPER! OK, I love Gentoo, again, and if
they ever have an address where I can send them money I shall.
Also, If I ever get to know the system well enough to help others,
I'll do that too. Thanks, and look forward to my questions in the
weeks to come.(;-))

Peace and joy, people

--
Fred
(Remove FFFf from my email address to reply, if by email).