Re: [Fsfe-uk] Proof of how scared senseless higher ed is of MS

[Ralph Corderoy]

Hi Paul,

> > > In an argument I had with him coming back from just outside of
> > > Cambridge a few years back, I was arguing that using anything not
> > > from MS would give companies an advantage as they would be more
> > > productive.
> > 
> > That's a stupid argument.  How productive a piece of software will
> > be to a company is not measured by whether it says `Microsoft' on
> > the packet.
> 
> Which was my argument.

Sorry but your argument, given above, was "using anything not from MS
would give companies an advantage as they would be more productive".  If
you phrased that poorly then fine, otherwise...

I'm saying that "How productive a piece of software will be to a company
is not measured by whether it says `Microsoft' on the packet".  IOW,
program A may be the most productive of the alternatives for customer X
even though it's by Microsoft.

You're saying that the mere fact it comes from Microsoft means it
automatically cannot be the most productive alternative for customer X.
Clearly false.  And talking to customers, your employer, or me on this
list, with that attitude will make you views be discounted as a bigot:

    A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion
    as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed to or
    differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended sense,
    a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own,
    as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to his
    own church, party, belief, or opinion.

Bigots can be useful in society, but a more softly-softly approach may
work better in many situations.

Cheers,


Ralph.