[TLUG]: of Hackers, Newbies and Fanboys

[Corey Burger]

On 2/9/07, Marcel Gagne <mggagne at salmar.com> wrote:
>
> Hello David,
>
> I intended to reply in private but since you mentioned my name publicly, I'll
> make my reply public as well.
>
> On February 9, 2007 11:08:56 am David J Patrick wrote:
> >
> > positive. The only real negative response come from the comments on
> > MSDN (not surprisingly) and Evan and Marcel. Now MSDN naturally
> > loathes anything not born of Richmond, but the CLUE contingent
> > professes a desire to promote linux and open source, so their reaction
> > is a little more troubling.
>
> Before you accuse Marcel of negative comments, read Marcel's email on this
> subject a second time. I've said frightfully little on this subject but what
> I said came out of a genuine concern for this community and how it is
> perceived. The message I wrote on this subject was a warning, prior to the
> events taking place, in fact (I refuse to make judgements on what happened at
> the event itself).
>
> I said that IF the author of the CRN Canada article (who suggested attendees
> were looking to trespass, disrupt, and cause property damage) was right in
> what he overheard, then I believe it was an amazingly bad idea. I still think
> that any event attended by Free Software enthusiasts that involves
> trespassing on someone else's property and causing harm is a bad idea and I
> won't back down from that point. I did, however, also suggest that talk
> of "starting a fire" in the ice house, could just as easily be just that,
> talk. Guys sitting around chatting over a beer or coffee have been known to
> posture and make suggestions they would never carry out.
>
> I resent any suggestion that I stand in the way of Linux and open source
> advocacy or that what I do is meant to somehow derail its progress. I have
> put more work, energy, and enthusiasm into helping bring Linux and open
> source into the mainstream than most and I'll hold my record up to yours any
> day.
>
> If you are offended by my warnings that breaking the law, trespassing, and
> causing property damage are somehow barriers to open source advocacy, then
> you've got some explaining to do.
>
> > duplicity. I intend to use my position as elected TLUG  board member,
> > and ubuntu-ca member, to foster co-operation between the "factions".
> > ubuntu-ca is forming methods and policies to that effect, and I hope
> > to see GTAlug and NEWtlug do the same.
>
> I'm not a 'faction'. I am, however, one who was deeply concerned about what
> could have been a disaster for this community (assuming the CRN Canada
> article was reporting on genuine intentions), a community I care deeply
> about. I spoke out in hopes of preventing a potential public relations (not
> to mention, legal) nightmare.
>
> > On that note, I would like to
> > propose a meeting with representatives of each, to discuss ways of
> > turning this "problem" into an opportunity.
>
> Still see this as a problem?

Marcel,

That crn piece was the confused ramblings of a half overheard
conversation at the Linux Caffe, from what I am able to piece
together. Basically, there was some concern about what is security
guards asked them to shutdown, as they did, and what to do about it.
There never was any plan to do any more than be polite and move if
asked.

For the record, I have asked Andrew for a public retraction and have
not even had so much as a reply back from him.

Yours,

Corey