[brlug-poly] M$ Spams Free Speech Alley.

[Will Hill]

As this has leaked onto the list, I'll have to respond to it.

Shannon, you remind me of Slashdot astroturfers.  Microsoft shat on me, not 
the other way around.  Why should I be quiet about it?  

My opinion here is mild.  I've counted the costs, expressed my friends' 
opinions, shown what a sweet deal this is for Microsoft and given LSU's IT 
some praise and things they can do to improve the system for everyone.  

The only blinding I've had was not knowing what Windows users would think of 
this.  My windows using friends also think they got a bad deal.  They already 
have the software and resent paying for the ability to download it again.  
Blinded by "anti-zealot" rhetoric, I was surprised to hear this - Microsoft 
users are supposed to be happy regardless of how screwed they are.  

LSU has it's own budget problems.  Blanco had put a hiring freeze on LSU as 
soon as she was elected.  So it is with every Democrat in her post.  In the 
last two months, however, a huge portion of the tax base has been wiped out.  
LSU is target #1.  

The tech fee is small next to LSU's budget and won't solve larger problems, 
but I'd like to see it put to better use.  


On 10/28/05, Shannon Roddy <sroddy at gmail.com> wrote:
> Will, you remind me of a person on one of the politics boards I am on.
> Blinded by hatred, refusing to be impartial, and consumed by your desire
> to shit on M$ every time you get the chance. The difference is that you
> hate M$ and he hates Bush.
>
> I don't like it, you don't like it, but unfortunately, many or most of
> the students are probably thrilled that they can now get M$ products for
> "free" through LSU. Most universities are doing this now. Hell, even
> Caltech does it. And they are complaining about budget problems.