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trans-coord/gnun server/gnun/ChangeLog server/g...


From: Yavor Doganov
Subject: trans-coord/gnun server/gnun/ChangeLog server/g...
Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 16:40:03 +0000

CVSROOT:        /cvsroot/trans-coord
Module name:    trans-coord
Changes by:     Yavor Doganov <yavor>   08/05/07 16:40:03

Modified files:
        gnun/server/gnun: ChangeLog gnun.mk 
Added files:
        gnun/philosophy: no-word-attachments.html 

Log message:
        (philosophy): Add `no-word-attachments'.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/trans-coord/gnun/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html?cvsroot=trans-coord&rev=1.1
http://cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/trans-coord/gnun/server/gnun/ChangeLog?cvsroot=trans-coord&r1=1.66&r2=1.67
http://cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/trans-coord/gnun/server/gnun/gnun.mk?cvsroot=trans-coord&r1=1.17&r2=1.18

Patches:
Index: server/gnun/ChangeLog
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/trans-coord/trans-coord/gnun/server/gnun/ChangeLog,v
retrieving revision 1.66
retrieving revision 1.67
diff -u -b -r1.66 -r1.67
--- server/gnun/ChangeLog       1 May 2008 07:36:27 -0000       1.66
+++ server/gnun/ChangeLog       7 May 2008 16:40:02 -0000       1.67
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2008-05-07  Yavor Doganov  <address@hidden>
+
+       * gnun.mk (philosophy): Add `no-word-attachments'.
+
 2008-05-01  Yavor Doganov  <address@hidden>
 
        * gnun.mk (TEMPLATE_LINGUAS, HOME_LINGUAS): Add `es'.

Index: server/gnun/gnun.mk
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/trans-coord/trans-coord/gnun/server/gnun/gnun.mk,v
retrieving revision 1.17
retrieving revision 1.18
diff -u -b -r1.17 -r1.18
--- server/gnun/gnun.mk 1 May 2008 07:36:28 -0000       1.17
+++ server/gnun/gnun.mk 7 May 2008 16:40:02 -0000       1.18
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
                free-software-for-freedom \
                free-sw \
                java-trap \
+               no-word-attachments \
                not-ipr \
                open-source-misses-the-point \
                philosophy \

Index: philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
===================================================================
RCS file: philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
diff -N philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
--- /dev/null   1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 -0000
+++ philosophy/no-word-attachments.html 7 May 2008 16:40:01 -0000       1.1
@@ -0,0 +1,344 @@
+<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
+
+<title>We Can Put an End to Word Attachments - GNU Project - Free Software 
Foundation (FSF)</title>
+<meta http-equiv="keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, 
Linux, general, public, license, gpl, general public license, freedom, 
software, power, rights, word, attachment, word attachment, microsoft" />
+<meta http-equiv="description" content="This essay explains why Microsoft Word 
attachments to email are bad, and describes what you can do to help stop this 
practice." />
+
+<!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
+   
+<h2>We Can Put an End to Word Attachments</h2>
+
+<p>by <strong>Richard M. Stallman</strong>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Don't you just hate receiving Word documents in email messages?  Word
+attachments are annoying, but worse than that, they impede people from
+switching to free software.  Maybe we can stop this practice with a
+simple collective effort.  All we have to do is ask each person who
+sends us a Word file to reconsider that way of doing things.</p>
+
+<p>
+Most computer users use Microsoft Word.  That is unfortunate for them,
+since Word is proprietary software, denying its users the freedom to
+study, change, copy, and redistribute it.  And because Microsoft
+changes the Word file format with each release, its users are locked
+into a system that compels them to buy each upgrade whether they want
+a change or not.  They may even find, several years from now, that the
+Word documents they are writing this year can no longer be read with
+the version of Word they use then.</p>
+
+<p>
+But it hurts us, too, when they assume we use Word and send us (or
+demand that we send them) documents in Word format.  Some people
+publish or post documents in Word format.  Some organizations will
+only accept files in Word format: someone I know was unable to apply
+for a job because resumes had to be Word files.  Even governments
+sometimes impose Word format on the public, which is truly outrageous.</p>
+
+<p>
+For us users of free operating systems, receiving Word documents is an
+inconvenience.  But the worst impact of sending Word format is on
+people who might switch to free systems: they hesitate because they
+feel they must have Word available to read the Word files they
+receive.  The practice of using the secret Word format for interchange
+impedes the growth of our community and the spread of freedom.  While
+we notice the occasional annoyance of receiving a Word document, this
+steady and persistent harm to our community usually doesn't come to
+our attention.  But it is happening all the time.</p>
+
+<p>
+Many GNU users who receive Word documents try to find ways to handle
+them.  You can manage to find the somewhat obfuscated ASCII text in
+the file by skimming through it.  Free software today can read some
+Word documents, but not all&mdash;the format is secret and has not been
+entirely decoded.  Even worse, Microsoft can change it at any time.
+Worst of all, it has already done so.</p>
+
+<p>
+Microsoft Office 2007 uses the patented OOXML format by default.
+(This is the one that Microsoft is trying to make an ISO standard by
+using its lobbying power on national standards organizations.)  Microsoft
+offers a gratis patent license for OOXML on terms which do not allow
+free implementations.  We will soon begin to receive Word files
+in a format that free programs are not allowed to read.</p>
+
+<p>
+If you think of the document you received as an isolated event, it is
+natural to try to cope with it on your own.  But when you recognize it
+as an instance of a pernicious systematic practice, it calls for a
+different approach.  Managing to read the file is treating a symptom
+of a chronic illness.  To cure the illness, we must convince people
+not to send or post Word documents.</p>
+
+<p>
+I therefore make a practice of responding to Word attachments with a
+polite message explaining why the practice of sending Word files is a
+bad thing, and asking the person to resend the material in a nonsecret
+format.  This is a lot less work than trying to read the somewhat
+obfuscated ASCII text in the Word file.  And I find that people
+usually understand the issue, and many say they will not send Word
+files to others any more.</p>
+
+<p>
+If we all do this, we will have a much larger effect.  People who
+disregard one polite request may change their practice when they
+receive multiple polite requests from various people.  We may be able
+to give &ldquo;don't send Word format&rdquo; the status of netiquette,
+if we start systematically raising the issue with everyone who sends
+us Word files.</p>
+
+<p>
+To make this effort efficient, you will probably want to develop a
+canned reply that you can quickly send each time it is necessary.
+I've included two examples: the version I have been using recently,
+followed by a new version that teaches a Word user how to convert to
+other useful formats.  They are followed by several suggestions sent
+by other people.</p>
+
+<p>
+You can use these replies verbatim if you like, or you can personalize
+them or write your own.  By all means construct a reply that fits your
+ideas and your personality&mdash;if the replies are personal and not
+all alike, that will make the campaign more effective.</p>
+
+<p>
+These replies are meant for individuals who send Word files.  When you
+encounter an organization that imposes use of Word format, that calls
+for a different sort of reply; there you can raise issues of fairness
+that would not apply to an individual's actions.</p>
+
+<p>
+Some recruiters ask for resumes in Word format.  Amazingly, some
+recruiters do this even when looking for someone for a free software
+job.  (Anyone using those recruiters for free software jobs is not
+likely to get someone competent.)  To help change this practice, you
+can put a link to this page into your resume, next to links to other
+formats of the resume.  Anyone hunting for a Word version of the
+resume will probably read this page.</p>
+
+<p>
+With our numbers, simply by asking, we can make a difference.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+<em>You sent the attachment in Microsoft Word format, a secret
+proprietary format, so I cannot read it.  If you send me the plain
+text, HTML, or PDF, then I could read it.</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>Sending people documents in Word format has bad effects, because that
+practice puts pressure on them to use Microsoft software.  In effect,
+you become a buttress of the Microsoft monopoly.  This specific
+problem is a major obstacle to the broader adoption of GNU/Linux.
+Would you please reconsider the use of Word format for communication
+with other people?</em></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+<em>You sent the attachment in Microsoft Word format, a secret
+proprietary format, so it is hard for me to read.  If you send me
+plain text, HTML, or PDF, then I will read it.</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>Distributing documents in Word format is bad for you and for others.
+You can't be sure what they will look like if someone views them
+with a different version of Word; they may not work at all.</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>Receiving Word attachments is bad for you because they can carry
+viruses (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro_virus).
+Sending Word attachments is bad for you, because a Word document
+normally includes hidden information about the author, enabling those
+in the know to pry into the author's activities (maybe yours).  Text
+that you think you deleted may still be embarrassingly present.  
+
+See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3154479.stm for more info.
+</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>But above all, sending people Word documents puts pressure on them to
+use Microsoft software and helps to deny them any other choice.  In
+effect, you become a buttress of the Microsoft monopoly.  This
+pressure is a major obstacle to the broader adoption of free software.
+Would you please reconsider the use of Word format for communication
+with other people?</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>To convert the file to HTML using Word is simple.  Open the
+document, click on File, then Save As, and in the Save As Type strip
+box at the bottom of the box, choose HTML Document or Web Page.  Then
+choose Save.  You can then attach the new HTML document instead of
+your Word document.  Note that Word changes in inconsistent
+ways&mdash;if you see slightly different menu item names, please try
+them.</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>To convert to plain text is almost the same&mdash;instead of HTML
+Document, choose Text Only or Text Document as the Save As
+Type.</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>Your computer may also have a program to convert to pdf format.
+Select File => Print.  Scroll through available printers and select
+the pdf converter.  Click on the Print button and enter a name for the
+pdf file when requested.</em></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+Here's another approach, suggested by Bob Chassell.  It requires that
+you edit it for the specific example, and it presumes you have a way
+to extract the contents and see how long they are.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+<em>I am puzzled.  Why did you choose to send me 876,377 bytes in your
+recent message when the content is only 27,133 bytes?</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>You sent me five files in the non-standard, bloated .doc format that
+is Microsoft's secret, rather than in the international, public, and
+more efficient format of plain text.</em></p>
+
+<p>
+<em>Microsoft can (and did recently in Kenya and Brazil) have local
+police enforce laws that prohibit students from studying the code,
+prohibit entrepeneurs starting new companies, and prohibit
+professionals offering their services.  Please don't give them your
+support.</em></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+John D. Ramsdell suggests people to discourage the use of Microsoft
+Word and PowerPoint attachments by making a small statement in their
+<kbd>.signature</kbd> file:</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+<em>Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.<br />
+See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html</em></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+<a href="/philosophy/papadopoulos-response.html">Here is a response
+letter</a> by Alexandros Papadopoulos to an email message with word
+attachment.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+Kevin Cole of the Gallaudet University in Washington,
+D.C <a href="/philosophy/kevin-cole-response.html">sends out this
+automatic reply message</a> whenever he receives a word
+attachment.  (I think it is
+better to send the responses by hand, and make it clear that you have
+done so, because people will receive them better.)</p>
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+Father Martin Sylvester
+offers <a href="/philosophy/sylvester-response.html">a more lengthy
+response</a> that adds the concept that it is a discourtesy to send
+Word attachments to a recipient when you don't know that they can read
+them.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
+
+<div id="footer">
+<p>
+Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to 
+<a href="mailto:address@hidden";><em>address@hidden</em></a>.
+There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> 
+the FSF.
+<br />
+Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to
+<a href="mailto:address@hidden";><em>address@hidden</em></a>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Please see the 
+<a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
+README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting
+translations of this article.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Copyright &copy; 2002, 2007 Richard M. Stallman
+<br />
+Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
+permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is 
+preserved.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Updated:
+<!-- timestamp start -->
+$Date: 2008/05/07 16:40:01 $
+<!-- timestamp end -->
+</p>
+</div>
+<!-- All pages on the GNU web server should have the section about    -->
+<!-- verbatim copying.  Please do NOT remove this without talking     -->
+<!-- with the webmasters first. --> 
+<!-- Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the document -->
+<!-- and that it is like this "2001, 2002" not this "2001-2002." -->
+
+<div id="translations">
+<h4>Translations of this page</h4>
+
+<!-- Please keep this list alphabetical, and in the original -->
+<!-- language if possible, otherwise default to English -->
+<!-- If you do not have it English, please comment what the -->
+<!-- English is.  If you add a new language here, please -->
+<!-- advise address@hidden and add it to -->
+<!--    - in /home/www/bin/nightly-vars either TAGSLANG or WEBLANG -->
+<!--    - in /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
+<!--      one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
+<!--    - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
+<!--      to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
+<!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->
+<!--     http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->
+
+<ul class="translations-list">
+<!-- Bosnian -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.bs.html">Bosanski</a>&nbsp;[bs]</li>
+<!-- Czech -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>&nbsp;[cs]</li>
+<!-- Danish -->
+<li><a href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.da.html">Dansk</a>&nbsp;[da]</li>
+<!-- German -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.de.html">Deutsch</a>&nbsp;[de]</li>
+<!-- English -->
+<li><a href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li>
+<!-- Spanish -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.es.html">Espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li>
+<!-- French -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.fr.html">Fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li>
+<!-- Hebrew -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li>
+<!-- Italian -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.it.html">Italiano</a>&nbsp;[it]</li>
+<!-- Dutch -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.nl.html">Nederlands</a>&nbsp;[nl]</li>
+<!-- Norwegian (bokmål) -->
+<li><a href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.nb.html">Norsk 
(bokmål)</a>&nbsp;[nb]</li>
+<!-- Polish -->
+<li><a href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.pl.html">Polski</a>&nbsp;[pl]</li>
+<!-- Brazilian Portugese -->
+<li><a href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.pt-br.html">portugu&#x0ea;s do 
Brasil</a>&nbsp;[pt-br]</li>
+<!-- Romanian -->
+<li><a 
href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.ro.html">Rom&#x0e2;n&#x103;</a>&nbsp;[ro]</li>
+</ul>
+</div>
+</div>
+</body>
+</html>




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