[Xiph-Advocacy] Re: [Speex-dev] Microsoft RTAudio

[xiphmont at xiph.org]

On 9/4/07, B. Mitchell Loebel <multinode at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hello Monty:
>
> I'm OK with not continuing this on the Speex tech list. In fact, I've
> deliberately responded off list to the various posters. I do think,
> though, that your admonitions to be non political should go to both
> sides ...

I didn't say go non-political.  There is an inherently political
aspect to both our projects and our organization.  However, speex-dev
is a technical discussion list. I've moved this discussion to advocacy
for that reason.

> The little dirty secret that nobody dares talk about is that
> the open source religion was born out of anti-Microsoft,
> anti-Capitalist attitudes ... let's simply acknowledge the truth.

I am not Richard Stallman. I respect what he does, but I'm not him.  I
don't even particaularly agree with him most of the time.  So let's
not put words in my mouth.

I will point out Microsoft has/does ship several of our codecs, mostly
where you can't see them/where they can't draw attention to
themselves.  So, to imply we're in some sort of formal holy-war with
Microsoft is incorrect.  However, Microsoft has engaged in blatantly
illegal behavior, for which they've been found guilty, and to dismiss
that assome sort of Socialist bias betrays quite a blind spot.

As for Speex-dev being Jean-Marc's list, you've hit it exactly.  It's
his list and he's permitted to break his own rules as the benevolent
Dictator of the Speex project.

Monty
Xiph.Org