Optimizing Linux Advocacy Efforts

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.

Comments

As long as they have something to contribute...

[JeremyR]

From the conference's Web site:

This conference is designed to discuss best practices, raise awareness and the share experiences among policy makers from the U.S. and Europe.

To the extent that Microsoft can contribute to the discussion of best practices, raising of awareness, etc. pertaining to open source, I don't see why they should be barred from participation. In fact I think their very presence may indirectly contribute to raising of awareness.

Cheers,
Jeremy