Photo by RightOnBrother

IN IDENTI.CA AND TWITTER, Free/open source software luminary Simon Phipps (OSI, ODF, and former Sun person) has had some interesting things to say since he wrote about Mono licences being banned by Microsoft. He was pressured to modify his post using old and familiar spin from the Mono bullies or Mono lobby. Basically, in order to water down unflattering articles they used the same trick they had used to deny Banshee's inclusion of forbidden (uncovered by the MCP) parts of Mono, even though in practical terms, as demonstrated by Jason from The Source, this trick is only theoretical. At a later point Phipps wrote: "Mentioning Mono in my article was an interesting experience. It was like mentioning Scientology..."

"Suffice to say, Phipps declined and turned away the agents."Phipps might already know that anybody who ever criticised Mono can attest to the same experience. By far the most vocal detractors of Techrights are the Mono boosters, to whom Techrights represents a threat because it informs people. Phipps -- like this Web site -- is an occasional critic of Microsoft's abhorrent behaviour and from other new messages from yesterday it turns out that Microsoft agents were trying to hire him this week. Eric Raymond received a similar treatment some years ago and it is no secret that Microsoft is sometimes hiring its critics to shut them up (Andy Updegrove may be a recent example of this). This strategy is not unique to Microsoft and oil companies in Nigeria, for example, adopted the same tactics wherein they hire prominent activists who previously worked against them. It's a bribe which weakens one's opposition. Suffice to say, Phipps declined and turned away the agents. ⬆