On Sat, 10 Dec 2005, Ian Lynch wrote:
... Countering a $360m a year propaganda machine for MSO is not that
simple with no marketing budget. Its not a matter of despising anyone
and use of evidence in such a way so as not to appear to be particularly
emotive is often the best way to do things.
There are several problems there. One is that most people project their
own values onto other entities, be they corporations or other people. So,
many people just get overloaded and dismiss the whole thing by saying
something like "that's not possible, something like that would be stopped"
Another thing is that MS *is* an emotional issue for most people. It's
gone way beyond being a marketing machine or even a lobbying machine and
moved on to being a full blown a political movement or ideology at this
point. One can discuss the issues and principles involved and get even a
Microsofter to agree fully, but the moment MS is named those issues,
principles and consensus go out the window. Many are just in love with
the concept of MS or Chairman Gates. Others see MS as a team identifier,
just try telling a footballer (even when sober) that his team sucks, even
if it's only won 2 games in the last 10 seasons.
...Undermine confidence in the opposition, boost confidence in your
product. Let's just do it, but do it with apparent objectivity ;-).
It would be interesting to set up an invite-only wiki and document as many
useful facts as possible for a few months and then polish it down into a
book. There would be no way to divide the profits fairly so proceeds
ought to be donated somewhere.
-Lars
Lars Nooden ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Software patents endanger the legal certainty of software.
Keep them out of the EU by writing your MEP, keep the market open.
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