04.19.10
Gemini version available ♊︎Ina Fried Receives Microsoft Payback as Gates’ Reputation Laundering Tour Kicks Off in US Colleges
Summary: Gates is touring to impress college kids and the press follows him like sheep, unable to actually cover what is happening in the background
A JOURNALIST who is focused on Microsoft once told me that Microsoft has a system whereby it rewards journalists who glorify Microsoft and punishes those who do not. It goes a lot further than that, but the discussion was private. What we do know (and have been writing about for years) is that CNET not only gives blogs to people who are Microsoft analysts (whose livelihood depends on Microsoft’s performance); it also employs de facto Microsoft PR people who pretend to be unbiased reporters. CNET is basically considered by us to be a terrible news source, which is biased by selection of writers and editors (and even the trolls in the comments [1, 2], who are sometimes bribed by Microsoft or are Microsoft employees in disguise). We have already provided many examples [1, 2], so we need not merely theorise.
Let’s remember that CNET used to be funded by Microsoft’s co-founder and it’s a bit of a sibling of ZDNet, which is a den of Microsoft boosters and aggravators. It’s an insult to journalism.
“Let’s remember that CNET used to be funded by Microsoft’s co-founder…”CNET’s most obnoxious Microsoft booster would have to be Ina Fried, who occasionally helps Microsoft attack GNU/Linux [1, 2]. He or she is still working around the clock with Microsoft staff (sending and receiving quotes and scoops) in order to keep CNET full of positive publicity and fake “leaks” for Microsoft. The same goes for people like Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates; Fried regularly generates news glorying him, as if endless PR and people following the latter around (and believing the marketers of his image) are not sufficient.
Well, Ina Fried receives some more payback after advertising Microsoft under the disguise of “journalism” for several years. “Hitting the road with Bill Gates” is the headline of Fried’s very recent post. Ina Fried is already sucking up to him by calling him “The next American Idol” (it’s a contextual pun, but still, it’s intended to deceive and glamourise). Bill Gates is already embarking on that “College Tour” which we wrote about a week ago and he is visiting Stanford to begin with [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. That’s today by the way. It’s just a PR tour, as noted not just by ourselves. TechFlash is another Web site which glorifies Microsoft almost as a matter of formal mission and it writes: “But like an aging rock star who can’t resist the allure of the road, Gates announced last night that he’ll be back at it next week — visiting UC Berkeley, Stanford, the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and MIT.”
Over at Groklaw, Pamela Jones replies to it by saying: “Here’s what Gates writes he’ll be doing there, aside from giving talks: “I’ll also be spending time at each school meeting with students and faculty to learn about innovative work they’re doing in their various programs.” Not to be unkind, but the students and faculty might want to talk to folks like i4i before they share their innovative ideas. Just saying. Ask your lawyer.” She is referring to the i4i vs Microsoft case. Microsoft infringed deliberately.
Next stop for Gates is the home of GNU and the FSF. Stallman must be yearning for it. Chicago is also part of this tour, where Gates will be ushered by people who lack critical thinking skills. Google’s Wikipedia rival, Knol, describes Bill Gates as follows:
Bill Gates ranks as one of the wealthiest and most influential people in history, yet he’s equally controversial. Is he an example of the American dream, a cutthroat businessman who has redeemed himself through philanthropy or a career criminal? This article presents a basic biography, then adds opinions, theories and logic in an effort to promote discussion and discover the truth.
This is a relatively accurate description. Even his current activities appear to be business- and profit-driven. Not much has changed since he was an arrogant man back in 1998 (there is news about what he said about Steve Jobs back then [1, 2) when he was deposed and his company found guilty of breaking the law. Such people would be wrong to glorify. █
“Gates’ gimmick of becoming a philanthropist repeats the Rockefeller scam almost one to one a century later.”
–Dark cloud over good works of Gates Foundation
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stonebit said,
April 19, 2010 at 7:12 pm
I would never trust a dude that gets his bits inverted. It’s all FUD from a freak who hates himself so much, he must leech on the success of others to subdue the pain of his own failure as a man. I feel sorry for him and his misguidedness the way a person feels sorry for a bum asking for a few bucks to buy some mouthwash so he can get toasted.
Needs Sunlight Reply:
April 20th, 2010 at 3:06 am
It may be for exactly those reasons that Steve Ballmer’s investment, CNET, uses him there to cover FOSS. Looking at the CNET headlines one could come away with the mistaken impression that they are providing coverage, rather than the reality of steering clear of most topics and technologies all the while providing FUD.
Dr. Roy Schestowitz Reply:
April 20th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
stonebit,
If you have technical criticism of professional matters, that may belong here; but don’t ever resort to personal attacks. You can insult one’s views (I include one’s politics and even religion here), but don’t insult for things that one cannot control. You can criticise someone’s decision to serve Microsoft (because nobody is born a Microsoft employee or a Microsoft promoter), but not someone’s gender, race, age, etc.
Your comment makes us look rude and we are better off sticking to the real issues.
We have never deleted comments in this Web site (as a matter of policy and it’s sometimes used against us), so I can only ask politely that you don’t insult people again. You can insult their views (without cursing or threats), not their physical shape.
verofakto Reply:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Perhaps your digs are supposed to be something else then? Why are you surprised that the cream of FOSS advocacy lands on your doorstep when you yourself are prone to insult people in the same ways? Perhaps it’s not as crude as your collaborators here, but you’re insulting and demeaning nonetheless. Or did you just happen to forget that Fried transitioned from male to female, so you said “he or she”? Or perhaps you’re trying to be clever?
These self-serving light spankings of your collaborators when they speak their minds a bit too clearly are hypocritical at best. Going back to your racial headlines (or shall we call that “culturally demeaning”) used to attack Miguel de Icaza.
Speaking of crude, if I remember correctly it was your good friend Sunlight here that called Microsoft employees “crack dealers”, and let’s not forget your friend Mark Fink, who called for their collective deaths. The cream of the crop indeed.
verofakto Reply:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Oh, the “filter” is “filtering” comments again, rofl. How convenient.
your_friend said,
April 20, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Having a convicted felon address students should be controversial. Mr Gates, as the chief owner and operator of Microsoft, was found guilty of anti-trust violations. University administrators should be ashamed to such an ethically challenged person tell students how to live. There are better people for lectures.