Re: [O] converting people to Emacs and org-mode

[Carsten Dominik]

On 9 apr. 2013, at 10:10, 42 147 <address@hidden> wrote:

> 
> Hello mailing list,
> 
> This might be considered off-topic.
> 
> The question is the title: have you been able to convert many people to
> Emacs / org-mode? Are converts all programmers, or those versed in
> programming? -- Or have you converted non-programmers, e.g., anyone who
> edits text for a living?


I have found that even without me trying to convert people, a lot of
people are picking up Org-mode, if they are using Emacs already.  I think
that in my working environment, pretty much everyone who is using Emacs
at least occasionally has heard about Org, and most of them are using it
at least for something.  Not the full suit of features, mind you, but
brain storming or document drafting, certainly.

Trying to convert people who are outside the reach of Emacs is
pretty futile, unless they are programmer types who easily take
up new tools.

I have heard a number of success stories of people who try to be
writers and who find that sticking ideas and snippets into a
re-arrabgable outline works *much* better for them than any other
system they have tried.

A few examples:

http://awarewriter.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/org-mode-for-writing-structure-focus/
http://awarewriter.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/monday-musings-org-mode-for-writing-ii/
http://emacslife.wordpress.com/2011/07/07/org-mode-and-novel-writing/
http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/07/22/emacs-for-writers-org-mode/

- Carsten

> 
> It's impossible for me to have a conversation these days without
> referring to org-mode. Since I use it for practically everything,
> there's no way to avoid raising the topic. However, I do find it
> difficult to convert people. I send them video captures showing off the
> features, give real-time demonstrations, etc., and offer to work them
> through the installation and lead them up the steep Emacs learning curve
> -- but thus far, I've only gotten a couple people to adopt it. And that
> after relentless advocacy.
> 
> Anyway, apologies if this seems to clutter the already highly active
> mailing list. But I do think questions of proselytization (because we
> /are/ talking religion here) is important.
> 
> 42
> 
>