[MLB-WIRELESS] Free Publicity - cowboys? Who us? Welcome to the wild frontier!!!

[Paul van den Bergen]

Hi all,

To tell the truth, I cannot understand why people are getting het up 
about how bad it is that 'x' ISP is spreading bad rumours about the 
wireless community.  Personally I take it as a positive sign that we are 
heading down exactly the right path and that all they are doing is 
giving us free publicity.  Remember that no publicity is bad (pun 
intended).  Lets face it, if they are complaining we are getting 
noticed! And no matter how you slice it, that ain't bad!

so how do we handle this?  well, not by being reactive, that is for 
sure.  Read Yes Minister if you want the HOWTO...

lets say that a report comes out that 'x' ISP (or whatever) thinks we 
are a bunch of cowboys and shouldn't be trusted to gum up "their" 
airways.  We can respond by pointing out that it isn't their airways 
(this is bad. It plays their game and they become the victum... you 
know, local business hurt by unscrupulous communitee group) or we can 
release a statement about how good it is that a groundswell communitee 
movement has sprung up out of essentially a hobbyist activity and how 
this will revolutionise the way people think of networks... beter yet, 
use the word evolution instead of revolution.  Every one thinks 
evolution is equal to progress and revolution involves tearing down 
social structures... we may be technoanarcists (*poink*) but we are not 
going to make friends with retoric...

alternatively say Welcome to the wireless frontier!  bring your own 
horse!  (anyone read Homesteading the Noosphere?)

either way, ignore the (bad but free) publicity and use it to bolster 
your own position.  what ever you do, don't play their game.

At the same time, we should stay legal, regardless.  this is not about 
surviving, but about doing the right thing. Even if there was not a 
remote possibility of legal action, I'd still advocate this approach. 
 Laws exist for a reason.  if that is wrong, change the law, dont break it.

Look at all this free publicity and rejoice, for we are free and clear 
in out reasons for doing what we do!!! Because it is fun!

-- 
Dr Paul van den Bergen
SERC, RMIT University
paul at serc.rmit.edu.au
+613 9925 1624 phone
+613 9925 5699 fax
goofey: bulwynkl



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