Re: [chat] MS bashing - WAS: NZ Company resuses to duplicate Knoppix CDs

[mkraus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

G'day...

Bret, I agree whole heartedly with what you are saying. I think you are right! I'm not justifying Microsoft in any way. I'm just more interested in getting into all things Linux than to waste time discussing Microsoft - unless its going to be of some productive value to Linux. (There are enough of us out there with viligant eyes on Microsoft already and I don't think that will really ever change anyway.)

It's like this - I used to suffer from post viral syndrome and in the process I was mis-diagnosed by one doctor as having atypical bipolar effective disorder (ie he thought I was a maniac depressant and that's where my illness was stemming from) as a result of that I was placed on all sorts of drugs with horrible and measureable effects to my life and well being. It has now been shown otherwise (ie. I really did have post viral syndrome).

For a while there I was really angry and bitter that this could happen. This was something that happened to me and my life and I had been cheated. However, I've got my health and well being now, I have a nice enough job, I've just about finished my university and I'm a bright enough fellow with exciting plans that I'm carrying out.

I could stay bitter and angry, but that would only detract from what I've achieved - including the good relationships I have with people and all the fun, excitement and joy I have in life (and what about all those other people's success stories who've been treated by that particular doctor).  Yes, it has been a certain way with Microsoft, but aren't we big enough to move on irregardless. Actually, it'd be sad if I stayed bitter and angry (and I'd have this constant sadness in my life).

After all, IBM numbered the Jews during WWII (omg - getting close to Godwin's Law) and we all love IBM now. (My paternal family are all holocaust survivors, and I use an IBM Aptiva.)

Warmest regards

Mike
---
Michael S. E. Kraus
Network Administrator
Capital Holdings Group (NSW) Pty Ltd
p: (02) 9955 8000

Bret Comstock Waldow <bwaldow@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 03/07/2003 01:29 PM

To:        mkraus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx         cc:                 Subject:        Re: [chat]  MS bashing - WAS: NZ Company resuses to duplicate        Knoppix CDs

On Wed, 2003-07-02 at 21:59, mkraus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Such a level of paranoia is remarkable!  It certainly isn't something
> that promotes our cause.

I don't disagree with this.


> Not everything Microsoft does sucks

Nor with this.  Many people in the market agree with their approach.

However...


> but lets let GNU/Linux stand on its own merits rather

I agree with this strongly.  I think it's the only way GNU/Linux/Free
Software can succeed, as well as the best way for it to succeed.  On
it's own merits.


I do want to make one point I feel strongly about.

I'm a dual citizen of the US and New Zealand.

Microsoft is convicted in (my) US Federal Court, of illegal actions that
damaged other companies (other groups of people who are also trying to
make an honest living for themselves and their families).  There is NO
doubt that Microsoft lied, and stole resources that did not belong to
them, using subterfuge and strong-arm tactics to do it.

There is absolutely no doubt about this.  It's a matter of public
record.  There is no need for confusion about it.  They stole (some
things are intangibles, but of recognized and non-trivial value) and
they were convicted of it.

Winning when you play fair is one thing, cheating is another.  They
*are* convicted of cheating.

In a monopoly, there can be only one winner.  How much less damage would
there be in the job market if we didn't have the near monoculture we
have now due in part to Microsoft's illegal market manipulations (and
attempts to co-opt and control all standards to their gain)?  How more
diverse would the working landscape be, how much richer the choices? 
And how much broader would the opportunities for employment be for us if
there were more fields we might specialize in?

I can't be sure, of course - no one can.  And it's endlessly debatable. 
But I give real credence to the possibility the job market might be
friendlier now if Microsoft had played honestly on the field we set up
for them.  Monocultures are shown again and again to be vulnerable, and
I think this also is operating in the current situation.

They didn't lie and manipulate "somewhere".  They did it in my life, in
my market, to my friends and family.  It's not academic.

I have and likely will continue to make my living partly working with
their products.  However, I can and will be sure not to choose their
ethics as I do my work, and their ethics are a matter of public record,
not opinion.

Cheers,
Bret

-- 
bwaldow at alum.mit.edu