Re: Just wondering...

[Paul Crowley <paul@hedonism.demon.co.uk>]

Simon Cooke <simonc@jumper.org.uk> writes:
> 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?

There's usually about one person who isn't decidedly anti-Microsoft on
the list, and I'm afraid it's currently you.  However, I hope you
don't feel you're wasting your time here, because I value your
presence on the list and would not want you to decide to leave.  Your
articles on campaign contributions furthered the debate, and the
people who occupied your shoes previously (if you'll pardon the
expression) were ... shall we say less rational.

I'm pretty sure that it would be a Bad Thing were Microsoft to achieve 
its stated aims.  I shan't apologise for being sure of something; it's 
not a position I've reached suddenly or without consideration, and you 
have to be "pretty sure" of things sometimes if rational thought is to 
get you very far.  But I want to be accurate in my criticisms of
Microsoft.  I don't want to attack it for wrongs it hasn't committed,
or ignore the flaws of its opponents while making up virtues they
don't have.  I may do this from time to time, as might other people on 
the list, and when I do I hope you're not alone here in setting me
right.

Even beliefs you're pretty sure of should be open to argument and
evidence.  But you don't seem to credit the possibility that our
current positions are also the result of argument and evidence.
-- 
  __
\/ o\ paul@hedonism.demon.co.uk  http://www.hedonism.demon.co.uk/paul/ \ /
/\__/ Paul Crowley            Upgrade your legacy NT machines to Linux /~\