[Linux-aus] The Great Debate 28 May 2007 - Linux vs Windows

[Paul Wayper]

Paul Antoine wrote:
> Bruce has an excellent point:
>   
>> The ACS should be representative of the whole ICT sector, and should
>> not promote or participate in debates like those that have been put
>> forward.
>>
>> Imagine if a specialist medical organisation did a debate on:
>>
>> "Ultrabrand (R) Stainless Steel Hip Replacements are better than the
>> community produced ceramic ones..."
>>     
>
>   
Actually, the comparison with the original 'debate' topic that occurs to
me is:

GlaxoSmithKline and the pharmaceutical wellness industry VS physicians,
consumer activist groups, herbalists, homeopathists and people who sell
those reflective disks that claim to cure everything.

In other words, lump the legitimate concerns in with the loony fringe
and call it an ad hominem argument.

The cigarette industry did this in the eighties.  The fossil fuel
industry did this with global warming in the nineties.

The real problem is that these 'debates' exist at all.  It means that
they've set the agenda and the terms of the 'debate', but that if we
(the OS 'industry') don't show it'll be seen as a show of weakness. 
There are only two tactics that I've seen win in this situation.  Either
you get the whole thing cancelled, or you go in and redefine the terms
of the argument in such a convincing way that no-one can disagree.  Both
are very difficult.

Have fun,

Paul