__/ [ Larry Qualig ] on Monday 13 March 2006 15:13 \__
>
> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>> __/ [ Larry Qualig ] on Sunday 12 March 2006 15:17 \__
>>
>> >
>> > Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>> >> __/ [ rapskat ] on Saturday 11 March 2006 22:48 \__
>> >>
>> >> > On Sat, 11 Mar 2006 13:00:05 -0600, Linønutlinønut wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >>> OpenOffice, by the way, is a fine tool which obviates dependence on
>> >> >>> Office and annuls data lock-ins. Unless you heavily depend on cruft
>> >> >>> like 'table drawing', nothing will be missed. Such stupid
>> >> >>> extensions remind me of the following:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> The answer is simple, Roy. I need to emit documents that don't
>> >> >> cause messages or hangup in the Word program that our client uses to
>> >> >> read (and tweak) them.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Maybe OpenOffice will eventually do that.
>> >> >
>> >> > I understand your points here 'Nut, however I agree with what Roy is
>> >> > saying; if you absolutely need to use Windows software, then just use
>> >> > Windows.
>> >> >
>> >> > The ultimate goal should be to totally remove the need for any
>> >> > Windows software whatsoever, therefore removing the need for Windows
>> >> > or emulators.
>> >> > Until then, just think of the ideal vs. the practical.
>> >>
>> >> I think Linonut suffers from customer-driven lock-ins, but for that
>> >> very particular reason, I suggest asking the cutomer to migrate to
>> >> OpenOffice or to save documents in a more standardised format. It is
>> >> possible even in Word.
>> >
>> > This simply isn't practical in the real world. For starters if American
>> > Express, Visa Internation or Citibank sends me a word document, they
>> > are not going to change their entire company to OpenOffice simply
>> > because I ask them too. The person sending the email isn't the person
>> > responsible for this. Large companies and governments are huge
>> > beuracracies and the person emailing me a document is simply a cog in
>> > the wheel... even if they agree, they won't be able to change anything.
>> >
>> >
>> >> I still refuse to accept Microsoft Office file by E-mail, even though I
>> >> can open them in OpenOffice. I won't even open them. It is a matter of
>> >> principle. If you never voice dissatisfaction, it /won't/ stop.
>> >
>> > This <sarcasm>pragmatic</sarcasm> approach will work fine in the
>> > real-world for about 5 seconds. Once your employer gets enough
>> > complaints or loses their first account because you refuse to open
>> > email based on some silly principal you'll be back out on the street
>> > looking for your next job.
>> >
>> >
>> >> Append one of the following to your reply (it's a quick cut-and-paste
>> >> job):
>> >>
>> >> ,----[ Borrowed quotes (source unknown) ]
>> >> | I do not have a copy of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
>> > Interpreted as your employer fails to provide employees with basic
>> > tools.
>> >
>> >> | I have no plans to buy one.
>> > Interpreted as your employer is a rinky-dink shop that forces employees
>> > to buy their own software.
>> >
>> >> | Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
>> > Interpreted as you are not capable of knowing how to open an
>> > attachment.
>> >
>> >
>> >> | Word, Excel, and PowerPoint use proprietary data formats,
>> >> | encouraging consumerism by forcing us to purchase new licenses
>> >> | every time they "upgrade" their secret formats.
>> > 99% of people in the real world simply want to get their work done.
>> > They are not interested in your personal politics.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >> | Send plain text, rich text format, html, or pdf instead.
>> >> | See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
>> > They are not interested in doing extra work or taking extra steps just
>> > for you.
>> >
>> >
>> >> | Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
>> >> | Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are unreliable, unmaintainable, and
>> >> | unsafe.
>> > People simply want to get their work done. They are not interested in
>> > your personal politics.
>> >
>> >
>> >> | Send plain text, rtf, pdf, or W3C html instead.
>> >> | See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
>> >> `----
>> >>
>> >> You should /never/ be told off for doing this. You have the right to
>> >> request data which requires less than $500 worth-of-software to become
>> >> readable.
>> >
>> > Have you ever had a real job Roy? Have you ever worked for a
>> > Fortune-500 company? Your post is nice in theory and altruistic but it
>> > is simply unrealistic in the corporate world.
>>
>> I did not appreciate or even cared for some of your comments, Larry. Mind
>> you, yesterday I resigned from a job I have had for 3.5 year. They needed
>> me more than I needed them and I have another job, as well as a full-time
>> Ph.D. in my hands. For that last mean remark of yours, I lost some respect
>> for you, Sir.
>
> My last comment? - " Your post is nice in theory and altruistic but it
> is simply unrealistic in the corporate world. "
>
> Well it happens to be true. An employer does *not* hire people to
> pursue their own personal agendas. While you may feel strongly about
> your position and it may be altruistic to you, your employer should not
> be brought in to it. When you work at a company the actions you take
> and the emails you write as an employee are representative of the
> organization you work for. Responding to the companies your employer
> does buisiness with and telling them that you "refuse" to open their
> email because it's in a closed monopolistic format is no more
> acceptable, or tolerable than appending pro-life or pro-choice
> propoganda to your email. If that's your *personal* position then fine,
> you are free to follow your beliefs on your personal time. But not
> while conducting official company buisiness.
There seems to be a misunderstanding here. I was either caught at the heat of
a moment or simply exaggerated a bit, merely for a point to be made. I have
enough tact to use reasonable judgment. I may ask a close colleague or a
friend to resend data in a format that suits me better (e.g. latterly it was
Excel for results from brain volume analysis).
When it comes to work, I would do the best I can and otherwise ask politely
for an alternative format or pick up the phone to avoid the pitfalls of
E-mail ambiguities.
Best wishes,
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz
http://Schestowitz.com | SuSE Linux ¦ PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
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