[odf-discuss] Miguel on OXML

[Lars D. Noodén]

On Wed, 31 Jan 2007, Daniel Carrera wrote:

> ...What activities? Mono? I contributed 12,000 lines of code to Mono. Am 
> I an MS shill now?

His statements over the last years.  It's not that important.

> Irrelevant point. He didn't say it didn't address technical concerns. He
> said it was politically motivated. I can have a political motivation to
> write a list of technical flaws in a spec. Why not?

It's still a technical problem.  It seems that too many try to dismiss 
technical problems (e.g. security failures), or for that matter anything 
other than high praise, as "politically motivated"

What's the point?  Either the points in the document are right or wrong. 
If they were wrong, he'd have a valid reason to claim politics.  If they 
are right, he's just whining.

> You are too quick to assume malice.

Again it depends on the individual and what they have written before.

> I don't believe that everyone who has an opinion on ODF that doesn't
> suit me is a shill feeding off an MS-run propaganda machine.

I don't either.  However, I am seeing a constellation of half-truths and 
misdirections that seem to pop up as a package.

> That sort of belief is paranoia. It blinds you to valid criticism.

Valid criticism is fine.  Bundling a few valid points in a whole payload 
of disinformation is not.

> It polarizes the issue. And ultimately, it makes you just as bad as the 
> very MS propaganda machine you criticize, as you polarize all opinions 
> as either "on our side or on their side". This is a dangerous path to 
> follow. It is also a dishonest one.

That hasn't been my practice, though once the benefit of the doubt is 
gone, it doesn't come back quickly or easily, even if events were to go 
that way.

It's probably my poor writing style that makes it look like polarization. 
I suppose I should spend some time and go back and find the valid 
criticisms of ODF that I read and nodded and said to myself, "that's 
right"  However, I don't tend to post too many 'me too' messages.

> timing -> huh?
> content -> are you surprised that an independent ODF antagonist and MS
> would both focus on the weakest points of ODF?

I don't see de Icaza as an independent.  His career, reputation and 
apparent income have been hitched to MS for quite a while.  He'll lose his 
status if he doesn't back them.

-Lars
Lars Noodén
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