Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["David R. Matusiak" <matusiak AT hotmail.com>]

television media, the past 15 years:

"and the president rolled out a new plan today to combat *drugs and 
violence*..."

"it seems these drug dealers are becoming more prone to violence 
everyday..."

"ten year old girl caught in gun crossfire of drug deal..."

"weapons, violence and tyranny: how drugs are ruining modern society..."

and now, the only word that anyone can think of anymore when you hear 
"drugs" is "violence;" eventho this was a straw man argument to begin with 
and there is still more evidence (i.e. arrest records) that shows that most 
folks arrested for drugs never had any association with violence at all.

but still they are "violent criminals" that must be held behind bars.
<how much is this costing me again?>

internet media, today:

"viral open source licensing will surely topple the current commercial 
software paradigm..."

"incorporating OSS code into M$ products is *dangerous*..."

"the scary thing is that the effect of this dangerous viral (as in, it can 
"infect" your computer) code will essentially steal everything that is yours 
and enslave you to a stinky hippy like Eric S. Raymond..."

"open source is really about taking away your freedoms and making you the 
laughable instrument of some really unpopular geeks..."

and pretty soon, when you mention linux to the (wo)man on the street, they 
will jump back, recoil in fear, then throw M$-sanctioned holy water on you 
until you sizzle into the concrete. "i don't want your #&%**%^* VIRUS!!!"

misinformation is king. words don't mean a thing. this is entertainment.

From: Thomas Beckett <thomas AT tbeckett.com>
To: "InterNetWorkers" <internetworkers AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Subject: [internetworkers] Re: Tightening the M$ screws....
Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2001 15:26:30 -0400

Michael S Czeiszperger wrote:
> I think the larger intent is to create the impression that there's 
something
> "dangerous" about open source in order to prevent their customer base 
from
> getting involved *in any way* with any type of open source software. By
> clouding the issue they can create confusion about the whole issue so
> companies are afraid to have anything to do with anything that's not
> Microsoft.

        Clearly.  Look at the way that they lump Open Source code in with
"viral" software of any kind.  It's as much a rhetorical device as a
contract term.

        Also, they're trying to avoid having open source mixed up with their
proprietary code.  It might result in M$ code being construed as open
source itself because of the open source component and the terms of
whatever open source license applies.

        The "virus" to them is losing control of their intellectual property.

TaB
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com