What attracts people to work on F/OSS projects? (undergrad research)

[MikeTbob]

I think a lot of people would also say that contributing to F/OSS is also a way of giving back to the community that gave them F/OSS in the first place.

[TaZMAniac]

When I came back to Linux full time about 3 or so years ago I told everyone I knew
that I'm going to do it for fun. I'm not going to be a help desk or answer any questions.
I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride.
So what happened?

I started contributing to this and other Linux forums, started my own Linux blog,
created a few multi-boot Linux projects and drove around on trash night collecting discarded pc's, fixed them up, loaded Ubuntu and donated them to the poor kids in my town.

Why the change of heart?
As a way of repaying all the fine people who gave us Linux and all of those who have helped me and the many others over the years.

It's an open source thing. You wouldn't understand.

[jayd512]

I think a lot of people would also say that contributing to F/OSS is also a way of giving back to the community that gave them F/OSS in the first place.

I'm with ya, Mike.
It's kinda like a 'Pay it forward' kind of thing for me.