David, please tell me you weren't part of this...

[Jamon Camisso]

Marcel Gagne wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> Not sure who David is, but I'll keep the subject line intact for threading 
> purposes.
> 
> On February 2, 2007 12:18:19 pm Evan Leibovitch wrote:
>> http://www.crncanada.ca/content/software/opinion-this-publicity-li.shtml
>>
>> Kinda makes me proud that I unsubscribed from the ubuntu-ca mailing list
>> a few weeks ago. Geez, how can such good software so badly represent
>> itself to the public?
>>
>> I have to generally agree with the author about the sheer stupidity of
>> this action. Can I assume that TLUG had nothing to do with it?
> 
> Thanks for bringing this up, Evan. Before I get on my soapbox, I want to give 
> the people this guy overheard the benefit of the doubt. When sitting down, 
> bantering over a beer, people make a lot of boasts they have no intention of 
> carrying out. e.g. "I'm going to $damage_description that 
> $derogatory_embellishment $name_of_target and dump him $some_location." 
> Happens all the time. So this could just be all talk.
> 
> If it is even partly true, then I need to climb on my soapbox for a moment.

It is not so please climb down. It was a good time with no problems 
caused at all except by police who kindly asked tux be deflated.

> If people want to stand a respectable distance outside the ice house, blow up 
> their inflatable Tux, educate a few people about Linux and open source, and 
> hand out CDs, that's their right and I don't have any trouble with that. If, 
> however, the article is representing fact and people actually meant to 
> trespass, disrupt Microsoft's demo, and cause property damage, we have a 
> serious problem on our hands.

The article (mis)represents fact. 3 Microsoft people were present at the 
linuxcaffe the day before and likely the author was/is one of them from 
the Canadian Tire money bit. Surely we all understand context and taking 
such condescention with at least a little grain of salt?

> Technically, Linux and open source collectively represent a better product 
> than what comes out of Redmond. Philosophically, Linux and open source 
> software is good for the world, providing a level playing field that makes 
> advanced technology available to those who might not otherwise be able to 
> take advantage of it. It's also good for the environment, letting people 
> reuse hardware rather than dumping it. I could go on but suffice it to say 
> that the reason I put so much energy into promoting Linux and open source 
> software is because I believe in it both techonologically and 
> philosophically.  
> 
> I also firmly believe that Linux and open source software can win a greater 
> mindshare with a positive message than a negative one. Let's not keep harping 
> on about how bad our competitor is. Instead, let's show how good we are. 
> Linux and open source boasts a fantastic, worldwide community. Let's show the 
> world that our ethics are as important as out brains. 
> 
> As the article referenced by Evan suggests, Linux and open source do not need 
> the kind of publicity that mayhem gets you. It's worse than a bad idea. 
> 
> [ Marcel gets off his soapbox ]

A good time was had by all. See http://jamon.ca/main.php?g2_itemId=474

Jamon

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