[odf-discuss] Miguel on OXML

[Lars D. Noodén]

On Thu, 1 Feb 2007, Carlos Moffat wrote:
> The attitude that bothers me about your criticism and others here is the
> notion that there's no valid criticism of ODF, and if any is voiced,
> them it must come from a MS shill. This is ludicrous.

That would be ludicrous, except that's not what I am saying and not part 
of my criticism.  Nor has anyone else on the list made that kind of 
criticism, so I'm not sure where you are pulling that conclusion from.

Re-read my criticism and follow-up messages.  The omissions and 
half-truths seem to be circulating as a bundle and their apparent. 
'boosters' like Miguel seem to be one means to broadcast them.

There are two problems here.  The small one is the particular errors and 
misdirection in the particular instance of Miguel's message.  The larger 
problem, IMHO, is that his message represents a campaign.

> I think Miguel's post had many factual mistakes.

Yes, but my initial message is not about the factual mistake in that 
particular instance of a 'booster' letter, but the appearance that very 
similar topics, omissions, half-truths and errors seem to be disseminated 
by many other 'boosters'  It looks more like a smear campaign more than an 
effort to correct problems with OpenDocument.  Another possible 
explanation is that it is intended to burn up volunteer time with petty 
debates.

> Part of his criticism seemed, to me, accurate.

Yes, and as I have written, there is not problem with the parts that are 
accurate, when separated from the misdirection, omissions and half-truths.

Recall that even I have criticized OpenDocument on several occasions, when 
I see it warranted.  For example, there are some deficiences in how 
metadata is currently handled.

However, Miguel, for example, has presumably had enough contact with 
projects like Gnumeric that it is hard to believe that he can accidentally 
make so many errors in one document on data formats.  And, again, these 
same errors appear to the be same as those circulated by other MS 
'boosters'

So again, the main issue I am trying to raise is that similar 
constellations of mistakes, ommissions and bits of disinformation keep 
popping up around the world, though brought up by those that should know 
better.

> If you want to start calling people MS Shills,
> be ready to be called a opensource 'zealot' or 'radical'. Real useful.

Happens already.  Anything other than high praise for MS, its products, 
policies or employees is slammed as 'bashing' or any number of names.

-Lars
Lars Noodén
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