[oclug] Selling out?

[Mark Harrison]

Robert,

Thanks for this. You have adopted a position very different from my own
initial position, but have argued politely and lucidly for your beliefs. I'm
wavering now, and MAY (no commitment) come round to your viewpoint.

> Microsoft really loved Open Standards

Indeed, I hear rumor that a mid-level Microsoft programmer (no longer with
the company) once spent as much as 15 minutes in the same building as the
hard copy of an Open Standard.

:-)

Regards,

Mark

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Brockway" <robert at timetraveller.org>
To: "General Membership Discussion List" <oclug at lists.oclug.on.ca>
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: [oclug] Selling out?


> On Fri, 7 May 2004, Mark Harrison wrote:
>
> > I'd be in favour, and would be intersted to see what MS had to say about
> > .NET for linux (which, after all, is what mono is.)
>
> If Microsoft were demonstrating any interested in working _with_ the Linux
> community to promote standards and interoperability I would be the first
> to line up to see what they have to say.  Instead all we see are attempts
> to break standards.
>
> Microsoft regularly misrepresent OSS in the press and plays on the
> misconceptions of the general public.  Many of the things their publicists
> say about OSS are lies, plain and simple[1].  Given this sort of
> background I can see no reason for Microsoft wanting to give a
> demonstration to a LUG except to try to pull people away from Linux.
>
> [1] Two Gems come to mind:
>
> a) An MS publicist recently complained (and I'm paraphrasing here) that a
> move away from Microsoft dominance [on the desktop?] was foolish as a
> network made up of many of different operating systems would never work.
> I don't excuse such comments through ignorance.
>
> b) A senior Microsoft staff member speaking at an OSS conference in
> Australia was asked when various MS document formats would be opened up
> after she had spent several minutes explaining how MS really loved open
> standards.  Paraphrasing, she responded that she did not know but would
> get back to the person after checking.  The person involved, a personlity
> in the Australian Unix community, promised to advise various mailing lists
> as soon as he heard back on this matter.  Fourteen months later we're
> still waiting.
>
> IMHO they can come speak at LUG meetings when they get some credence.
>
> > After all, if Microsoft refused to present to a Linux conference, they
would
> > get slammed for trying to impose a particular vision of the world.
>
> I wouldn't slam them.  Since they are not providing any apps for Linux it
> actually seems a bit odd to me that they want to be present at Linux
> conferences.  The reasons are clear to many of us I assume.
>
> > But if a LUG refuses to let Microsoft have their say, then we are opened
to
> > many of the same criticisms. (One world view only, seeking to exclude
the
> > competition, not open to alternatives, etc, etc, etc.)
>
> I wholeheartedly disagree with this position.  Allowing free speech to
> those who would seek to destroy it is not hypocracy to me.  Microsoft
> don't want to play nice and they don't want Linux around.  Should it be
> proven that Microsoft have changed their position and are now willing to
> embrace open standards and alternatives to their viewpoint I will gladly
> send a public letter of apology to Redmond for everything I've said in
> this email.
>
> > BTW - treat my views with a very low weighting - I may get to one OCLUG
> > meeting later in the year, but no more than that :-)
>
> I don't attend OCLUG meetings being Toronto based so take my comments for
> what they are :)
>
> In any case I've said my piece.  Unless the thread heads in new and
> interesting directions you won't hear from me again.
>
> Cheers,
> Rob
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>