Craig White wrote:

>On Mon, 2004-01-12 at 06:54, Dennis Kibbe wrote:
>  
>
>>When I recently registered arslinux.net I created a "Carte dvisit"
>>(business card in English) to hand out with my new e-mail address. A
>>friend to whom I gave the card asked me if I knew a good pop-up blocker.
>>It surprised me that he still didn't know about Mozilla! So I've decided
>>to use the back of the card to try to educate those I meet.
>>
>>Now, I know this doesn't say anything about Free Software (and most of
>>the programs listed aren't) but it's all I can fit on the back of a
>>standard 3inx2.5in card, even with 7 pt. type.
>>
>>I'll consider the card successful if they accept that the problem is
>>with their use of inferior (M$) software /and/ that there is something
>>they can do to help. It always surprises me that so many people don't
>>know there is life outside IE & OE.
>>
>>I'm hoping the card will be my "foot in the door" to talk about FS/OS
>>alternatives.
>>
>>Please read the text below. I'd like to get some feedback from the
>>group, before I print a bunch.
>>
>>Thx, Dennis Kibbe
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Do Your Part to Reduce Spam
>>
>>If you're still using Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook Express
>>you /are/ part of the problem! Security flaws in Microsoft products are
>>a big contributor to the amount of spam we all have to deal with
>>everyday. You can do your part to help reduce this flood of unwanted
>> mail by /not/ using Internet Explorer or Outlook Express. It's not hard
>>to make the change! The programs listed below are all superior Microsoft
>>products and free for the downloading!
>>
>>Mozilla Internet Suite - http://www.mozilla.org
>>Pegasus Mail - http://www.pmail.com
>>Eudora - http://www.eudora,com
>>Opera - http://www.opera.com
>>    
>>
>----
>since you asked for commentary... None of those listed are Microsoft
>products at all and even the term free for the downloading is not
>entirely accurate. There are licenses and restrictions of use on all but
>mozilla I think.
>
>Personally, I am resistant to anyone who seeks to change what I do. This
>strikes me as similar to the person that knocks on my door to tell me
>how my life will change when I fill my heart with Jesus.
>
>If your point is, doing this will stop spam - you're wrong, it won't. It
>would only help a little even if everyone in the world stopped using IE
>& OE. If they install and maintain a anti-virus product on their
>computer it is far less material which commercial product they use.
>
>'so many people don't know that there is life outside of IE and OE' was
>your statement and I would say that they have not found a reason to
>care. If they can access their email and the internet, they are happy
>and they probably aren't concerned about the politics of computing.
>Market forces have their own dynamic and when Linux has the proper mix
>of software, usability for the average computer user and the
>distribution channels for software and hardware, people will recognize
>the value and hopefully seek out the knowledge of why 'Free Software'
>works for them.
>
>Encouraging people to trade one commercial proprietary product for
>another doesn't make much sense to me and I doubt that it will make much
>sense to them. Just because you can download, install and use it without
>paying for a fee or license doesn't mean much...for example, using
>Eudora in sponsored mode (free) subjects you to the stream of
>advertisements.
>
>Personally, this makes you appear to be an anti-Microsoft zealot which
>is not at all what I would like Linux users to be recognized as.
>
>Craig
>
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>  
>
Just a suggestio,  forward all spam to "uce@ftc.gov"