Commentary: Like many readers, I find Microsoft's Get the Facts (GtF) ads repugnant, especially when they appear on sites dedicated to Linux and open source software. I understand that such organizations' editorial and ad sales staffs operate independently, meaning neither side tells the other what content it is or isn't allowed to carry, but I still don't like it. Happily, however, the bogus GtF ads may not be around much longer.
It's just so apropos that this story appears with a Microsoft "Get the Facts" ad in the middle of the page. I don't buy the "editorial and ad sales staffs operate independently" bit. It's a lame excuse that only says "it is this way" without explaining why it should be.
Deriding the "Get the Facts" campaign while publishing the very ads you're complaining about is, at best, hypocrisy and only erodes your credibility. Get a leash on your sales staff. If you disapprove of the ads, do something about it.
A publication that proclaims itself "The Online Newspaper for Linux and Open Source" that takes money to publish ads that are, even they admit, lies about Linux and Open Source is not much of a newspaper.
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Oh, the Irony...
Posted by: tsg on June 25, 2005 03:37 AMIt's just so apropos that this story appears with a Microsoft "Get the Facts" ad in the middle of the page. I don't buy the "editorial and ad sales staffs operate independently" bit. It's a lame excuse that only says "it is this way" without explaining why it should be.
Deriding the "Get the Facts" campaign while publishing the very ads you're complaining about is, at best, hypocrisy and only erodes your credibility. Get a leash on your sales staff. If you disapprove of the ads, do something about it.
A publication that proclaims itself "The Online Newspaper for Linux and Open Source" that takes money to publish ads that are, even they admit, lies about Linux and Open Source is not much of a newspaper.
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