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Optimizing Linux Advocacy Efforts

Posted by michael on from the million-penguin-march dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Open source advocate Tony Stanco, of the George Washington University Cyberspace Policy Institute has been getting flamed for allowing Microsoft reps to speak at an Open Source in government conference he's putting on next month. Today, in a commentary on NewsForge, Tony responds to the flamers. He says, "Leave it to the kooks in the community to make Microsoft look sympathetic." Is he right? Should we be willing to listen to what Microsoft has to say? Aren't open minds important to open source?" Newsforge and Slashdot are both part of OSDN.

9 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. Be fair. by grub · · Score: 5, Funny

    Really.. the MS people know they're speaking to a tough house at events like this. Let them fall by their own devices..

    MS Rep: We have Clippy.

    OS Rep: We don't. We have robust, low cost software that in many cases outperforms proprietary software. We'll even give you the source code to modify the products for your own use. If you don't distribute the binaries, feel free to keep the source in-house.

    MS Rep: We have Clippy.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Be fair. by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, we do. So, if that was the "killer app," can I get my grandmother to switch now?

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
  2. It's really simple here by XaXXon · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is an OPEN-SOURCE CONFERENCE. Why would you invite Microsoft to an OPEN-SOURCE CONFERENCE? They're obviously not interested in anything other than trying to convert people and steal business.

    That's like if I was on the high-school chess team and I threw a party and was told that I had to invite the football team, who would try and beat me up, and steal any chess girls that might (I can dream) show up.

    It's a private conference, and it inviting Microsoft is (-1) Offtopic.

  3. GRRRRR!!! by gpinzone · · Score: 3, Funny

    If there's one thing I can't tolerate, that's intolerance!

  4. Why not seek compromise? by archeopterix · · Score: 3, Funny

    We should let them speak, but cover our ears and mumble "we're the best, we're the best, we're the best...".

  5. Optimizing Linux Advocacy Efforts by IWantMoreSpamPlease · · Score: 2, Funny

    Simple:

    Upgrade your kernel!

    Oh wait, that doesn't fix it? Drat!

    --
    So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
  6. Re:Be fair yourself by hdparm · · Score: 2, Funny
    What possibly could be the problem with MS Mail or 95? You have done something wrong! Fix is easy:

    fdisk

    format c:

    install from scratch

    ???

    ???

    Unfortunately for you, both last options are just ??? - no profit here - that goes to your software vendor.

  7. No problem as long as... by mikosullivan · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... Open Source advocates get some time at Microsoft's government conferences.

    --
    Miko O'Sullivan
  8. Re:Good point by Radical+Rad · · Score: 2, Funny

    Absolutely. Equal time. Maybe the Administration should invite executives from each of the major oil companies to speak at the U.S. Symposium on Fuel Conservation and Pollution Reduction. And next Martin Luther King Day perhaps the NAACP should check to see if David Duke is available to be their dinner speaker. :^P

    Seriously though, Tony Stanco makes a very good point.