MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-02-09 |
| FROM | Maxwell Spangler
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Re: [novalug] Re: [fairuse] Re: E-Gov-OS conference
|
On Sun, 9 Feb 2003, Ruben Safir wrote:
> Maxwell wrote:
> > 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.
>
> No
>
> I'm sorry but you are wrong on all the points.
Perhaps in other situations the things you believe in would be accurate, but
it has been been my observation that the methods you wish to use would NOT be
productive in the federal government.
You have to start with respecting that federal workers can make intelligent
decisions about things given the right opportunities to do so[1]. That means
having the right choice as an option and having enough information to educate
them on what is best.
The idea of keeping some players out of the discussion because they haven't
met someone's arbitrary criteria is exactly what has kept Linux and other
non-Microsoft solutions from being included in Linux for so many years. Now
that we're seeing Linux show up as an option, it's being increasingly
investigated and used, albeit in the government's slow and cautious manner of
change.
Participating in influencing government decisions is steeped in, shall we say,
tradition, and tradition that doesn't change often or quickly. So regardless
of how evil Microsoft is and how many things we all know they've done, the
"government" as some magical thing isn't going to read one of your emails,
realize it and change.
So please recognize, that in the area of government use and procurement of
Linux, you have to play by established rules and procedures. For example,
Federal Workers might give more acceptance of a show with Microsoft, IBM,
Oracle, and many other well know players and choose to attend. That means
more eyes for presentations that are pro-Free Software and able to point out
the lies of Microsoft.
The idea that people can't hear from Microsoft and decide for themselves that
they are not the right choice is disrespectful to other people and you should
try to change your attitude towards them.
Finally, note that members of the Nothern Virginia Linux Users group have
had success with a tiny booth at an annual Federal Government Office Systems
Exposition while being in the shadows of Microsoft. I'm not writing this just
to disagree with you, I'm writing this because I've been to those shows, I've
talked to federal workers, I've seen their interest in Linux despite the
presence of competition from MANY other well funded non-Linux interests and I
expect this to continue. Providing the decisions makers with MORE information
is the key to the right outcome and should always be the method chosen.
[1] Most people don't have this respect for federal workers, but when you live
in this area and find they are your neighbors, church members and PTA parents
are federal workers, reality of who they are and how hard they try starts to
seep in. Try to be optimistic if you don't know these folks personally.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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