Re: Just wondering...

["Norm" <normanmo@clark.net>]

On Mon, 28 Dec 1998 21:11:29 -0500, Simon Cooke wrote:

>I know this list is called the "Appraising Microsoft" list, but from some
>of the participants - Mitch, who runs the boycott Microsoft site, Jamie,
>who spent a spell on the MSNBC Technology BBS trying to convince everyone
>that MS was up to no good, etc etc, I get the feeling that a more accurate
>name would be "Anti Microsoft".


     Probably, but the question is if we're talking about an unfounded
bias or if it's a valid conclusion based upon years of experience and
observation.  I make no bones about it, I *AM* anti-M$, but that
doesn't mean I just woke up one morning and decided to feel that way. 
My distrust for M$ goes back to the days of the 'cpu tax' (that's when
I started to question what they were up to), but little did I know then
that the more I learned about them the uglier it would get.


>
>So, to see if I'm wasting my time here (preaching to people who have
>already religiously made up their mind and know innately through some kind
>of divine intervention that Microsoft is Evil, Injust, Cruel to animals
>and generally downright rotten), if anyone here takes a pro-Microsoft or
>even a not-all-that-against Microsoft - or preferably a "Show me the
>facts" stance, can they let me know?


     Equating my stance to that of a 'religious zealot' is an insult to
my intelligence, and it's certainly a far cry from the "show me the
facts" stance you claim to prefer.  As I mentioned before my opinion is
based on my own personal experience and observations, not some 'leap of
faith'.  I didn't reach my opinion lightly, and my concerns about M$
date back to long before it became popular (which makes all the 'I told
you sos' that much sweeter :-)).

     I wouldn't say it's a complete waste of time (I enjoy hearing
opposing views myself), but that doesn't mean it's not going to be an
extremely hard sell.  The problem M$ has (with me at least) is that no
matter what they do today or tomorrow they've still got a rather dark
legacy to live down.  Another factor that's going to make changing my
mind difficult is M$'s serious credibility problem.  It's to the point
where if a M$ spokesperson states it was dark outside at midnight I'd
have to open a window and look before I'd believe it.  I seriously
doubt even you would try to defend some of the crap that's spewed out
of the M$ camp, at least not with a straight face.


>I'm intrigued, because day in, day out, I read people on this list venting
>spleen about the evils of Microsoft, over analyzing everything down to the
>slightest minutae, and taking *anything* and *everything* as evidence of
>Microsoft's evildoing. Eg. the current posts about Office and Netscape,
>and previous posts about Microsoft running sweat shops with Russian
>Immigrant programmers.
>
>Am I just misreading peoples intent here? Or is this just a place for
>everyone to get together and villify Microsoft? You know, your typical
>advocacy place, where even cold hard fact won't change peoples opinions?
>

     Although I don't doubt that there have been times when M$ has been
unjustly accused of something here IMO they still have to shoulder some
of the blame for it.  M$'s past (and current) behavior makes it easy to
create what I'd call a "I wouldn't put it past them" scenario, and
their complete lack of any credibility whatsoever makes it that much
easier for anyone to make unfounded claims against them.  Lets face it,
comparing M$ with 'the boy who cried wolf' would be a gross
understatement.


>Curious, no offence intended,
>Simon (not speaking in any way for my employer, which is indeed Microsoft,
>and which may or may not share my views)


     None taken, preaching to the choir can be boring at times. 
Although I'm sure our opinions differ considerably I have to admire
your entering the 'lion's den' here.  But enough about us, this is a
two-way street so I'm curious to know if the "hard facts" could do
anything to change your mind too.


--
 ...Cheers,

 ...Norm

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