Re: [OS:N:] Quick Survey

[Jeremy Hogan <jhogan redhat com>]

On Sat, 2002-09-28 at 11:16, Charles Muller wrote:
> Gary wrote:
> 
> > I would be interested in hearing more about what a company should and
> > should not do if they are working with Open Source.
> 
> Well by this, and the other response I've seen, it is obvious that I am
> alone in thinking this, so I'll just chalk it up to having misunderstood the
> nature of the list. When joining, obviously I was aware that it was
> sponsored by Red Hat, but I apparently misconstrued the title of the list to
> understand that the list would be dedicated to talking about Open Source
> issues in an unbiased way. I never imagined that I would be asked to fill

So ignore the survey and move on. I admitted it was likely not the
place, but we as an OpenSource company would like to improve. When Red
Hat does well, so does OpenSource. 

If you want to take a poke at us, do it in the survey, I didn't mean for
this to be so offensive. It's pretty regular practice for companies to
post wherever conversation about that company occur. I won't do it
again, as I don't want anyone, even one person, to think ill of it.

> out marketing surveys and receive regular plugs for Red Hat software. If I
> had signed up for any of the other lists, which indicate that they are
> specifically for the purpose of selling or supporting of Red Hat, I would
> have expected it, but not here.

I haven't seen any plugs for the software. If folks ask about it I
reply. Secondly, divorcing Red Hat from OpenSource is a mistake, not b/c
I work here, but b/c it is the leading company in the proof that OSS can
be even moderately successful. I would ask you this, when a discussion
happens around OSS, how do you expect to remain generic? Should all
discussions end in "you should find an OSS e-mail client?" or should
someone say "I've used Evolution and Kmail to great success"?

Same goes for the OS. Normally folks here say "Linux" and at points
where expertise or specific features and functions need to be discussed,
the conversation turns to , and will continue to turn to: "I use
Mandrake because, or I use Red Hat because..." 

> 
> The impression I get from this, is that Red Hat is trying to use the good
> name of Open Source to sell itself. I'm not buying, because the whole thing reminds of the kinds of disingenuous tactics that I would
> expec from another OS maker, the one that controls 95% of the desktop market.

Well that was not the intent. The intent of the survey, which is fairly
clear if one were to read it before flaming it, to to ensure we *don't*
lose our roots, which are very firmly planted in OSS. I want you to
think for a moment of the irony of you thinking RH is profiteering off
the good name of OSS, when we helped create that good name in circles
where it *never* would have gotten.

> 
> No need to have a debate on my account, because I'm out of here.

Good luck and good bye. I hate to lose an obviously empassioned voice
from the list.

It's a shame you can be so open minded about OSS, but can't be open
minded about something as simple as a completely optional survey. I
wonder if your going to go off to every other newsgroup on the web and
complain about the bevy of off topic posts.

--jeremy

> 
> Chuck
> 
> 
> ---------------------------
> Charles Muller  <acmuller gol com>
> Faculty of Humanities,  Toyo Gakuen University
> Digital Dictionary of Buddhism and CJKV-English Dictionary 
> [http://www.acmuller.net]
> Mobile Phone: 090-9310-1787
> 
> 
> 
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