[odf-discuss] [Fwd: OOXML]

[Alex Hudson]

marbux wrote:
> To be clear, I am not suggesting for a moment that people who have
> posted to this list are Microsoft agents. I am suggesting that I have
> many times seen industry propaganda themes trickle down into
> discussions among those in the public interest camp.

I think you're missing the point. This isn't about "leave it to the 
experts" versus "lobby like crazy".

This is about writing to people in a way which will actually have an 
effect. The whole thinking you outline is adversarial in nature, and 
that simply won't do over here: the people we are writing to are neither 
our friends nor our enemies, and they _do not take sides_. There is no 
"us" and "them", until we push them too hard.

If you write to committee members of the BSI, simply regurigitating 
arguments without looking at previous communications is just going to 
annoy them, frankly. And the more annoyed they get, the *less* they will 
listen to us. It's that simple a formula: we have a chance to convince 
them, and "pressure" does not create an environment in which people will 
be receptive.

For example, we've already had feedback that they felt ODF was rushed. 
If you want to argue that OXML is being rushed, you need to bear that in 
mind. If you don't, a) you come across as a hypocrite, b) you help 
invalidate the other points you go on to make. You're also saying "you 
should give OXML special treatment, because it's far too complex for you 
to look at in just one month". Whether or not you think the points are 
logically valid doesn't matter, this is communication.

I'm not saying people shouldn't write letters. I am saying that they 
should be very, very smart about how they write them, and do some research.

Alex.