MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-05-19 |
| FROM | Dave Williams
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Re: A thought
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On Mon, 2003-05-19 at 20:23, Bruce Perens wrote:
> I remain unconvinced that it was a bad idea to let MS talk. I still think
> it would have been worse to lock them out.
>
Thanks for replying to my message.
I have to say that in the end the conference seemed to work in
Microsoft's favor. The confusion over "shared" versus Open Source
continues, and in light of recent revelations it appears to be a
calculated move. All of the concerns about Microsoft that were
previously voiced are becoming increasingly verified by news reports and
leaked internal memos. I only hope that the European eGovOS conference
doesn't feel the need to invite them, or at least has the sense to
recognize that they aren't participating in Open Source when their next
paper is presented. Having indulged them in DC, I think everyone should
feel that the need for fairness is satisfied.
> I have no doubt that Ruben's heart's in the right place. I disagree
> with him on strategy and tactics. Ruben has been having fights with
> more people than just Tony and me of late, and there seem to be people
> publishing disavowals that he is connected with their organizations. I
> think this has something to do with the same things that I disagree with
> him about. But this will not prevent me from supporting him when I think
> he's right. Hopefully he places Free Software ahead of personal
> differences enough to do the same for me.
As I understand it, the fights you mention were largely due to a battle
of egos among people who wanted their personal agendas to take center
stage instead of a combined effort to oppose harmful legislation.
Currently NYLXS has a new President, and has always been organized along
democratic lines in support of Free Software and individual digital
rights. The arguments about tactics have been settled by the
organization taking the high road, allowing its critics to continue
without opposition. While Ruben's tactics may be abrasive to some, in
the face of so many threats it takes all types to guarantee our
freedoms.
> By the way, I thought you folks carried off the demonstration well, and
> did your best to make your point without doing collateral damage to the
> Free Software cause. If I missed shaking your hand in D.C., I didn't
> mean to. I'm sure I shook Ruben's hand.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to participate, but as I understand it the
appearance of the "founding fathers" was a high point of the
conference. Credit must go entirely to Ruben for that -- it was all his
idea, and a good example of how he can be more focused and effective
than his writing style suggests!
- Dave
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