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Stanford Linux Demonstration
Students at Stanford organised a peaceful Linux demonstration
at a local career fair handing out flyers.
David Weekly did a
write-up on how it went. Link courtesy of
LT.
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That is an inspiring piece. Now I plan to look for such an event around here to do the same. Thank you!
Go back to kindergarten, rabble-rousers.
Baah, this wasn't a demonstration! It was just two people handing out flyers... Now, for a REAL demonstration, you would need a large, angry mob, beating on some kind of drum, and yelling obscenities. Oh well, maybe next time.
as opposed to a violent one?
Imagine my surprise coming out of the Stanford faculty club building and glancing at the window behind the Microsoft booth. Covering part of the large Mocrosoft poster was 'Oppose Microsoft' complete with Linux penguin. No wonder the Microsoft rep looked surly when I returned an hour later
I dont mind if Linux.Org is a commercial venture.
But they do it in a very distasteful way!
After they couldn't get anybody to advertise on their
site, which isn't surprising at all, they started
LSA. A bad bad move. I am not going to go into
details here because, this post would then get
tooo long. Also note that its not that "Linux
sites" cant get advertisements. Slashdot has no problems
finding sponsors and if Freshmeat guys tried it, they
wouldn't have any problems either. Not Linux.Org
though! They may get some clueless newbie company,
some day, but everybody else knows them too well.
Their site is always slow as hell also. Slow link?
Or badly configured server? Whatever it is, gives
a bad impression of Linux to others.
I have no sympathy for these losers! They always
keep complaining as to how much its costing them
to run the Linux.Org operation and how they are
losing money. They just dont get it through their thick
skulls that maybe they should give up? Hand over
the domain to somebody a little more competent?
Heck they could even try to sell it. They might
actually make some money THAT way, if they are
not having any luck any other way. Anybody with
half a brain could do a much a better job than
these sleeze balls who are trying their darnest
to get rich off of Linux.Org domain registration.
Linux.Org people, if you are reading this, please
understand that, if you give up control of Linux.Org
and transfer it to Linus voluntarily, maybe you'll
earn a little respect for yourself in Linux community.
(and creepy and technologically xenophobic and narrow-minded and get-a-life-worthy and just plain bizarre)
If you think that applies to only one community of a particular OS, you are truly clueless. Furthermore, to use that (what the community is like) as the main reason for choosing or not choosing a tool to use is stupid.
Let us know when Microsoft finally stops breaking the law in their so-called competition. I won't hold my breath.
You are so blind. There are so many things to point to here, but just consider some of the MS internal memos about cutting off Netscape's air supply. Do you believe that MS executives actually intended to let IE compete based on its own merits without leveraging the OS? If so, then you need to stop having wet dreams about Billy so much and get a reality check.
I totally agree with your point about how Linux is the community. But whether or not this community is *significantly* hurt by immature loudmouths is far from clear. Perhaps its instructive to consider what the issues are. For example, KDE vs. GNOME, now there's a lame issue for you. OTOH, "oppose Microsoft" does not automatically earn scorn--after all, there is plenty of reason to oppose them. Of course, the opposition should be carried out in an intelligent manner. I and many other people subjected to the stupidities of MS products enjoy these kinds of reports.
But in the end, it's not about rubbing Microsoft's nose in the excrement. It's more about taking back the mindshare that they have stolen. If that means toning down the rhetoric, then I'm all for it.
I dont mind if Linux.Org is a commercial venture.
But they do it in a very distasteful way!
After they couldn't get anybody to advertise on their ugly
site, which isn't surprising at all, they started
LSA. A bad bad move. I am not going to go into
details here because, this post would then get
tooo long. Also note that its not that "Linux
sites" cant get advertisements. Slashdot has no problems
finding sponsors and if Freshmeat guys tried it, they
wouldn't have any problems either. Not Linux.Org
though! They may get some clueless newbie company,
some day, but everybody else knows them too well.
Their site is always slow as hell also. Slow link?
Or badly configured server? Whatever it is, gives
a bad impression of Linux to others.
I have no sympathy for these losers! They always
keep complaining as to how much its costing them
to run the Linux.Org operation and how they are
losing money. They just dont get it through their thick
skulls that maybe they should give up? Hand over
the domain to somebody a little more competent?
Heck they could even try to sell it. They might
actually make some money THAT way, if they are
not having any luck any other way. Anybody with
half a brain could do a much a better job than
these sleeze balls who are trying their darnest
to get rich off of Linux.Org domain registration.
Linux.Org people, if you are reading this, please
understand that, if you give up control of Linux.Org
and transfer it to Linus voluntarily, maybe you'll
earn a little respect for yourself in Linux community.
Yeah, I'm all for the "Oppose Microsoft" posters. Although it isn't positive, I think it's necessary. It's easy to forget just how political an action installing Linux (or Windows) is. In doing so, one expresses either defiance or submission, respectively.
If I were there, I would have made "Oppose {Sun|Apple|3Com}" posters, too. That's all closed source stuff, and closed source is the problem -- MS is just a symptom. Apple and Sun are just as bad as MS, they just aren't making any money doing it because they don't have big enough marketing departments. That's all it is (well, that and Mac OS and Solaris are better products for their repsective markets than the correlative MS products, but that's nearly irrelevant).
What impressed me was all the other companies who were supportive (Intel, Apple, Palm, Compaq, etc.). But I wonder if that will stay after the trial ends.
---
mjt
-----------
-----------
100% pure freak
The people who run that site have shown themselves to be rather antagonistic toward the linux community in general (and Slashdot in particular). The were behind the LSA, which if you don't remember/aren't aware of it, was basically a thinly veiled money/power grab attempt. Their reaction to the outcry over it was unfortunate, to say the least.
and counting :-).
-- Eric
Send mail here if you want to reach me.
:-)
Not!
Oh come on, I almost shed a tear for the
sniffiling Microsoft representative who
cried "Why our benevolant corporation? Why
are you doing this? What did we ever do to
you?!"
If Microsoft had it's way, this site wouldn't
exist, Linux would not exist, and Windows
would be in every home, on every desk. (Which
it's close enough to being)
Where do you want to go today? Right.
Nothing wrong with fighting back if it's not
completely tasteless. Your mileage may vary.
I can't help noticing, from the linked account, that David Weekly and Nathan Schmidt (the two Stanford undergrads) defaced Microsoft's banner outside the event and (apparently) did aggressive leafleting right at the Microsoft booth.
Thereby conveying the impression that Linux advocates are just another rude and ill-behaved wing of the Anybody But Microsoft movement.
That is not progress. Next time, guys, please think first.
Rick Moenrick@linuxmafia.com
Anonymous Coward "AndyM" wrote:
linuxmafia? whoa, sounds really seedy
You know, there's an intriguing concept you might want to look up, called "irony". Clearly, you have never encountered it, explaining the apparent obtuseness of your comments.
As to the "big smile" on your face while reading accounts of vandalism and generally shooting one's self in the foot in the eyes of the general public, it might indicate neural damage or some sort of stupor. You might want to seek out a competent neurologist.
Concernedly yours,Rick Moen
rick@linuxmafia.com
err, but microsoft aren't a monopoly. the very fact that linux is gaining market share proves this.
kernel panic instead
of course they did - and netscape talked about making windows 'irrelevant'. that's what competition is about.
These students should get a life. Linux is the better OS, but that doesn't mean we should market it with "oppose Microsoft". Please - show some self respect.
--
Matt. Want XML + Apache + Stylesheets? Get AxKit.
Oh yes, I'm sure they'll burn in hell, those evil, evil people.
--
Matt. Want XML + Apache + Stylesheets? Get AxKit.
We didn't deface anything. We were kind and courteous. 95% of the people enjoyed us being there. Several dozen people learned what Linux was and why it was a viable alternative to Microsoft. We brought smiles to people's faces and were told that we were the sole bright spot in an otherwise bleary day. People gave us respect, and we gave people respect. We refuse to be pressured into quiet mainstream submissiveness with comments like yours. Be happy. Embrace the flow. Stand up for Linux.
David E. Weekly (dew)
David E. Weekly
Code / Think / Teach / Learn
h4x0r for
i think it would have been better to have the flyers read 'support linux', rather than 'oppose microsoft'. one should not be touting linux simply because it's not microsoft, which is the impression people could get from their singling out microsoft like that. if you want to support linux, great, but do it based on its own merits and not who did or did not create it.
yes, i realize the purpose was to create a little controversy, but i think i more subtle approach would have been more effective.
"onward!" cried the copper man, little knowing brass corrupts...
Microsoft jumping on the Linux bandwagon and porting their apps is the same thing as "bringing them to their knees", because they would lose their monopoly OS advantage.
Moreover you know Microsoft would only port its stuff under extreme duress, ie after its too late. For example, right now would be an ideal time to port Word over and maintain their market share, but no. They will foolish dawdle until Linux gains an "alarming" market share with Word Perfect/StarOffice as the defacto Linux word processor, and it will be too late.
Bottom line is, there is no way Linux can not disrupt Microsoft, so might as well enjoy it.
Da Bread
Good job.
-- Elflord
Good job indeed.
:)
This inspires me to up the activities of NDLUG. A friend and I went to activities night here at the beginning of the year wearing "Ask me about linux" signs. Some girls asked us just cuz the penguin was so cute...
But after collecting a few email addresses of people actually interested, we got kicked out. But now we've gotten some university support. Unfortunately, our Office of Info Technologies loves M$. time to put an end to that trend.. and this story gives me some ideas...
Okay, I'm really, really sorry about this, since it seems like it touches a nerve someplace ... but what is/was the LSA and what did it do that was wrong?
D
There are lots of complaints here about the students wording, as thought the poster's suggested wording is the natural opposite. Pro-Linux is NOT the natural opposite of Pro-Microsoft.
If the student's main message is "Microsoft is bad" that is exactly what they should say. If their message is "Linux is wonderful", implying that OpenBSD, ALL Windows software suppliers, and all the others in the industry, should be dismissed, that is what they should say.
To tell others what to say is to assume you fully understand their position. However, if you don't understand their position after reading their leaflet, I guess that leaflet shows severe weaknesses.
What is "the LSA"?
Guess that makes me a newbie now...ick.
Back to square one...
"Although we may build the technology that we define as tools, we must be vigilant that those tools do not define us."
I agree to Acropos.
In fact I think to many people want Linux to be the thing to bring MicroSoft to it knees.
I want Linux to be able to stand for itself. In fact, I hope that MicroSoft jump on the Linux wagon and start to port their products to Linux. If they don't have NT server as a base, their products have to stand for themselves and compete on equal terms to others.
Sincerely
DearHeart
Why www.linux.org and www.redhat.com? Actually, they seem fine to me (though I can imagine hostility towards Red Hat). Why do people hate www.linux.org so much, though? I guess that's my real question. Is it that it's so commercial? I bought Sam's Teach Yourself Linux in 24 Hours because it was recommnded there (I didn't follow a link, though). I sort of regret it. It should not have been a "recommended" book. So why do people hate it?
Nope. The difference is, Linux is innovating, Microsoft is actively using illegal monopolistic techniques to destroy competition.