[svlug] Re: S.V. Tea Party--The Great Linux Revolt Continues

[Javilk]

> 
> On Wed, Nov 11, 1998 at 09:47:55AM -0800, George Bonser wrote:
> 
> > I am guessing that as soon as the first CDROM is pulled from its bag,
> > anyone being identified as a Linux radical will be escorted from the
> > property under threat of a trespassing charge.

     I would not doubt that MS is already compiling a list of us.  We
probably have several moles on this list already. If we don't, MS is just
plain stupid!  

      Many of us will probably be photographed at this event, and rap
sheets/dossiers prepared "for internal use only". MS certainly has one on
me already for patent issues. We've dealt with their head legal man,
Neukom, before. We listened to their staff lie left and right to each
other and to us before our ears!!!  As I understand it, the word is that
any employee having an extended conversation with me will be subject to
disciplinary measures, which may including firing. Some were told that
they WOULD be fired if they ever spoke to me again.  I kid you not.  They
appear to be infringing a patent of mine. They licensed what appears to be
MY technology to others!
 
> Be nice to all the other guests.  Don't rant at the media, just
> quietly make _your_ point if they ask you.  Don't do anything illegal
> or impolite.  Listen when others talk.

     It is VITAL that we act as Decent Ladies and Gentlemen!

     We DO NOT want a repeat of the police incident at Fry's.  That brands
us as radicals in the press, and gives MIS managers further ammo AGAINST
hiring Linux Professionals.

> Most important: be the kind of guest the others will miss if you do
> get thrown out.  That means Microsoft has the choice of letting the
> thing turn into a Linux event, at least partly (good for us) or
> overreacting and throwing all the Linux users out (bad for them.)

   EXACTLY!!!  You want any action against you to appear to others as
gross over-reaction against a decent normal person!!!  It makes them look
like paranoid goons! 

     The modern day weapon of choice is the camera.  The Press will have
cameras.  Bring your own.  Keep it in your pocked/bag/whatever till
needed. Photo/videotape ALL EXPULSIONS!!! When any Linux person starts
talking to an MS person, start your video tape rolling.  Record the polite
as well as the impolite, to document how the MS person started to
over-react.  DO NOT REACT yourself. And do not come to their aid.

      1. Particularly nasty, unwarranted expulsions can be posted and sent
to the press.
 
      2. It will dissuade them from violence.  The eyes of the public are
the best defense against violence.

      3. Any violence/injuries can be addressed in a court of law after
the fact if we have documented evidence -- photos and video tape.  (In case
some jackass security thug or manager loses his temper.  It could happen. 
Let us hope it does NOT!) 

      Note: they have no right to touch you.  This is particularly true of
the ladies amongst us.  The minute they lay a hand on any of us, we MUST
have video tape rolling. And it should have been rolling before they
touched us.

      Remember, you attract more flies with a spoon full of honey, than a
gallon of gall -- Abe Lincoln, was it?

      This should be a polite welcome party, not a confrontation!  But we
should be ready just in case, ready not with insults or resistance, but
with the eyes of the public.  Ready to take it to RealTV, and the other
action media.  And if need be, to Ted Koppel on NightLine.

> If we're polite and reasonable, it's either we win or they lose.

      If we are polite, we will all win.  Good news travels up the ladder
much faster and easier than bad news.  We DO want MS to embrace the open
software movement. We WANT to give them warm feelings about the open
software movement.  And the inevitability of our success.  If the
employees of MS see us as decent folks, if they like us, they will become
sympathetic to our causes, and it will be far harder for MS to enforce
bans against speaking with us. And harder for them to get moles and
saboteurs to subvert and damage our open software. 

      We want them to join our community, not to build walls against the
inevitable; for when walls collapse, people get hurt on both sides.  The
more fanatical the walls, the worse people get hurt! 

      We are professionals and enthusiasts, decent people.  On both sides
of the fence.  Let us extend our welcome, and our CD's. 

- javilk at mall-net.com -----------------------------
-------- MS asks "Where do you want to go?" -------
------- Linux asks "What do you want to do?" ------
-- It is doers, not goers, who built this world! --
--------- Member: http://www.svlug.org/ -----------


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