MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-02-09 |
| FROM | Maxwell Spangler
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Re: [novalug] Re: [fairuse] Re: E-Gov-OS conference
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On Sun, 9 Feb 2003, billy ball wrote:
> Microsoft should be shunned at any professional computing forum for its
> actions and behavior...
When someone says something that you don't like you can either censor them to
stop them from saying it or have increased discussion about what was said so
that the truth about it can come through.
I don't see how pretending that Microsoft doesn't exist on a selective basis
is going to further anything.
There will always be some clueless people that go to tradeshows and fall for
the marketing and propaganda of various vendors. Microsoft clearly knows this
and is attempting to get everyone with it.
But their presence is also a tremendously appropriate context for people that
don't know any better to ask "What do you think of the Microsoft products in
booth 13?" At that point you've got the exact venue and audience to address
Microsoft's evils.
The audience is listening, they're interested and you have to be optimistic
and respectful that they'll be able to figure out who is telling the truth.
If you really want to do what is right, then *compete* on software products,
customer support, pro-consumer licensing and beat Microsoft on all the things
that are supposed to count.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maxwell Spangler
Program Writer
Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A.
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area
____________________________
New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
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