Re: Stealth Stealth

["Glenn T. Livezey" <glivezey@netserv.unmc.edu>]

On Sat, 11 Apr 1998 21:15:07 -0400 (EDT), James Love wrote:
>Topic No. 3
>Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 11:10:03 -0400
>From: James Love <love@cptech.org>
>To: Multiple recipients of list <am-info@essential.org>
>Subject: Elizabeth Corcoran on MS Stealth PR
>I would be interested in reactions to the story by Elizabeth Corcoran in
>today's Washington Post......................

My initial reaction to this specific article is that it seems to be constructed 
to appear "balanced" even when the facts are heavily against Microsoft. 
Might be "policy", particularly in this litigious age, but that is scarier than 
the prospect of a "profit motive". And if your description of her previous 
work is accurate then my "gut" response is to ask why she is not listed as
a "wholely owned subsidiary" of MS in her byline............. The Washington 
Post is not likely to employ anyone who could miss the salient points of a
story through incompetence (not for long anyway). And since there are 
some glaring omissions (such as any hint or suggestion that this "document" 
describes an organized campaign of disinformation and includes carefully 
placed "opinions" fraudulently attributed to non-MS sources), then this leads 
me to conclude that the appropriate facts and perspectives were intentionally 
not addressed.  Motive? Uncertain, but also somewhat limited in the spectrum
of possibilities...BUT....On second read I can glean a subtle message of "and 
if you believe that one, I've got a bridge in the desert that I'll let you have for a 
very special price". Using statements directly attributable to MS to damn them
as pathological liars is a clever angle - but too clever by half I'd say.  I'm afraid
it requires too much of the average reader to recognize a "whopper" when its 
quoted without background or context. Maybe that is the answer to why she 
never used the word "stealth" in the article - it was a "stealth" review of the facts.
Perhaps this is her style and her "fans" would recognize it. Anyone buy that?
You do? Well...... have you seen how lovely the desert is this time of year.......
.;-)




Glenn T. Livezey, Ph.D.
Director of Perinatal Research
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Nebraska Medical Center
600 South 42nd Street
Omaha, NE 68198-3255
Phone- 402-559-8064
FAX- 402-559-7126
e-mail glivezey@netserv.unmc.edu