May 17, 2008
And man…do I deserve it.
In response to the post on pirate ROMs, and how I handled declining to answer a question on how to do it at the NOLA conference, I used the analogy of being a drug user (possession), rather than a drug dealer (distributing), Daniel took me out behind the woodshed and proceeded to lay into me with an ax handle. For good reason.
Here’s Daniel’s response, in its entirety…
I absolutely agree with your position and the decision you made. It is better just to be the drug user and never cross the line into drug pusher/dealer.
On the other hand, how respectable is it to be *just* a drug user?
Let’s continue the analogy of software piracy = drug use and look at the whole picture.
You are a speaker presenting on the topic of marijuana and it’s benefits (it’s legal but only in rare instances). After discussing the topic at length, one of the participants asks, “You’ve convinced me, I’d like to get high as soon as possible, where can I get some drugs.” Immediately you find yourself between a rock and a hard place. You know that drugs (including marijuana) can really mess a person up and that there is no legal option that you can answer with. So you pull a stash of crack-cocaine out of your pocket and explain, “I am a user who likes to get high, but I’m not about to become a dealer or tell others how to commit such a crime.” Then you light your crack pipe and take a hit.
I think the better answer would have been to explain that the only legal option is to wait until its official release and keep your illegal warez to yourself.
Not that it would help your integrity more…a person of integrity does what is right even when nobody else is looking. So to install a pirate rom kills your integrity whether you advertise that fact or not.
So yes, I respect your decision and attitude to have “more” integrity by not pointing the way towards illegal software use. But I hope you can understand why you have lost some level of respect from some people.
Not only is he absolutely right, he’s DAMN right.
Worse yet, railing against how bad pirate ROMs are like I am, and then doing it myself makes me not only a damn dirty pirate, and still part of the problem…
But also makes me a damn dirty hypocrite too.
I wish Danial had been in the NOLA audience and said that. Because I would have not only made the audience applaud him for saying that, but I would have also taken this long overdue step right then and there.
Today…
I am taking a solemn vow RIGHT NOW.
I, Chris Rue, pledge to never EVER use or download pirate ROMs. Ever.
Folks, that’s how important I feel this issue is to the long-term health of the Windows Mobile platform.
And I hope you will join me in this pledge, by also filling out the following…
Pirate ROM Survey & Pledge
This is OPEN to anyone who is interested in commenting on Windows Mobile and the ROM situation.
|| posted by chris under clueless, hardware, mobility, opinion, rx, shoutout, thumbs down || comments (4) ||
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May 16, 2008
A lot of interesting things happened in NOLA last weekend. Some of which I’m at liberty to discuss, some of which I’m not.
But by far, the most disconcerting had to be the number of people who said to me at one point or another during the conference…
Oh, I saw that you closed/killed the Funboard forum. I used that ALL THE TIME. I was sorry to see it go!
WHA…?
Ove the entire life of the Funboard, which was the Vanilla-based forum system used here at the Funcave, I personally accounted for over half the postings.
I simply couldn’t get anyone to talk at all.
And I just couldn’t understand why, either.
I thought I was posting intresting topics, especially for a starter board, etc. Open-ended stuff.
But two key stats from the Funboard tell a certain story.
There were 650+ members of the Funboard at the time of its closing.
But there were over 17,000 anonymous views. Now, that’s not accounting for multiple views from same computer, etc.
Still tho…that is a HORRIBLE conversion ratio.
No matter what, I chalk a good bit of the relative failure of the Funboard to a group of things I like to call The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly…
GOOD = Super strong content (which doesn’t generate discussion, simply lurkers/leechers)
BAD = No working notification module/plug-in for Vanilla
UGLY = The utter lack of support for it among my peers, including a few who were downright hostile toward it, ridiculing the effort to start a place where folks wouldn’t be, well…ridiculed for asking a simple question.
But even if that has been fixed, the simple fact of the matter is that if people don’t get off their own duffs, and support resources they find helpful…
Whether that support is monetary (FB was never a pay site, so this is not about a money thing), or simply posting a comment, question, a note of thanks, or whatever…
If no one takes the time to offer the kind of support that resource needs, then that resource will die.
That is a 100% stone cold guarantee.
R.I.P Funboard.
Evidently folks other than me miss you. Maybe there are more. Really tho…how would I know?
|| posted by chris under clueless, community, funboard, kma, thumbs down || comments (1) ||
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May 14, 2008
Today is the final class meeting for the 25th anniversary class of Leadership Tuscaloosa. This afternoon, we graduate.
I’m feeling…really overwhelmed by it already.
When I applied for Leadership Tuscaloosa, I knew it would be great. Even Running Antelope knew how important it was to me. When my acceptance letter came, I was away travelling somewhere. She called to tell me, and I yelled out loud wherever I was at. I remember people looking at me.
In 9 months, my 39 classmates and I…
- Looked at what has gone on in Tuscaloosa’s past, and what it needs for the future.
- Participated in a SIMSOC, an eye-opening simulation, about society.
- Talked about leadership, especially what it is, and what it isn’t.
- Spent a day roleplaying as someone with needs trying to navigate the labrynthian maze of social service agencies.
- Saw the political system, and city and local government in action in Tuscaloosa
- Discussed ways to foster the growth of the local arts and cultural resources.
- Worked in a team of 8 to helped a very worthy non-profit with their annual fundraiser, which brought in double their target amount. Also, helped get them squared away in some key operational areas. And…helped them request a $105,000 technology grant to fund all their technology needs, which is still pending approval. While our 32 classmates worked on equally important projects, with equally stunning success.
Plus…I got to be 8 years-old again for half a day, which was priceless.
And even though it wasn’t part of our Leadership Tuscaloosa class, certain of my classmates helped make West Alabama’s inaugural E-Cycling Day an unqualified success, thanks in total to their talent, dedication, hard work, and commitment to our local community.
I mentioned Leadership Tuscaloosa during the final session in New Orleans this past weekend, which happened to be on “Community” in an unannounced, last-minute change.
I talked about what Leadership Tuscaloosa had done for me, both personally and professionally. How it was far far better than I ever could have imagined it would be, and that I know it is an investment in the future. That the deep relationships I forged with these amazing amazing people will continue to grow stronger over time.
During the session, because I knew that Jason Leib had been through a Leadership program in the Kansas City area, where he lives, I asked him to stand and tell the crowd what the experience of going through that program was like.
I thought his answer was absolutely perfect.
He simply paused a brief moment, then said, “Life-changing.”
I couldn’t agree more. And all for the better.
|| posted by chris under biz, community, epiphany, more cowbell, rx, thumbs down || comments (0) ||
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May 13, 2008
Again…let me tell you how astonished, humbled, and amazed at how many of you got real, tangible value out of the talk on Mobility I delivered in New Orleans this weekend.
I appreciate EVERYONE who has already filled out the Mobility Survey. I will be responding to each of you individually about your awesome awesome comments. that’s least I can do for the amazing outpouring of support this community has show to me over the years, and to the ideas I have about Mobility.
I’m worried though, that one of my answers during the Q&A session might not have been as clear as it should have been. I’d like to get the chance to clarify it now for both those who were there, and even folks who were not there. It’s a VERY common question, that comes up all the time in the Mobile world, and is a complex, frustrating, and bothersome issue, as it veers in the very real and nasty world of software piracy.
Let’s start with the question. A gentleman in the audience asked if I would explain how he could get Windows Mobile 6.1 for his device, even tho it’s not slated for a release. He knew that there were unofficial sources out there, but wanted some guidance how to do it, the tools needed, the best sources, and how to avoid destroying his device.
I will tell you…I was taken aback. Here’s why. I will state this in no uncertain terms…
When ANYONE uses an unofficial ROM update to upgrade their device, they are…at best, risking rendering their device useless (bricking it) or exposing themselves to embedded data exploits. However, even if those don’t happen, ANYONE who uses an unofficial ROM update it committing SOFTWARE PIRACY!
Seriously. No different than grabbing a copy of SBS 2003 or 2008 off a warez site.
So…this person was asking me to tell an assembly of roughly 200 SMB IT pros how to commit illegal software piracy, while at the same time potentially giving them information that could destroy their devices, or expose them to hidden data exploits they might never know about.
Not only that…but everything I was saying was being recorded, by a professional audio and video crews being paid by Microsoft, to create videos that may be rebroadcast on the Microsoft Partner site.
If I seemed nervous, I was. I was trying to pick my words very carefully. My first reaction was to simply say…
DON’T DO IT! DON’T THINK ABOUT IT! IT’S NOT WORTH THE RISK! NO WAY!
I didn’t say that.
What I did was hold up my personal mobile device, a Palm Treo 750. I did not use it for the WM 6.1 demo at all, on purpose. I used Microsoft Device Emulator running Windows Mobile 6.1 images. Which is not only free, but an official tool. I talked about how this is the best way to learn for everyone, etc.
I did say tho…that my Treo was running Windows Mobile 6.1 and that it was a pirate build. That I do NOT have direct access to the Windows Mobile team, nor any mobile operators. So that ROm came from an unofficial source.
However, I have vowed to never ever EVER disseminate, distribute, or otherwise give out information to anyone about how to find, use, or otherwise commit software piracy with pirate ROMS.
Think of this like…the War On Drugs. We’ll call it The War On ROMs.
If I get a pirate ROM for personal use and use it, then I’m roughly the equivalent of someone busted possession. Most times…nobody does much of anything.
But if I am directly involved in the distribution, dissemination, and the use of pirate ROMs, then I am the equivalent of a drug dealer. And that’s some seriously bad juju.
Let me ask this question…
How many of you help your clients commit software piracy on their PCs? Do you load warez or illegal OEM copies of Windows, Office, or other software for them?
I hope not. I sure don’t.
In fact, as Running Antelope says…
You Are Mr. Super Straight Arrow About Software Licensing
So much so that even in our own house, we follow software licensing to the letter. Because as I understand it, if I commit, or help commit software piracy, MS has the right to revoke all my certifications, everything.
Basically all the knowledge and certification equity I have worked so hard to build my entire 14 year IT career.
All because someone at a conference wants to use pirate ROMs.
[EDITED: Ending removed on the advice of people much smarter than me. Thank you Susan! Thank you Mark!]
|| posted by chris under clueless, community, hardware, it pro, kma, mobility, opinion, thumbs down || comments (14) ||
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May 7, 2008
It’s official.
The Funboard AKA the FB has been permanently shuttered. This would be the official notice. Not planning to send anything about the closing via e-mail to any of the 650+ folks who registered for the FB, let alone its 17,000+ anonymous visitors.
Certain info may make it out of the wreckage, but no promises.
Were I someone else, I would prolly go on a long-winded rant about community, selling out, apathy, etc. But in the end, to be honest, community is a funny funny thing. Just as passion about something usually starts with just a couple of folks, so too does apathy. And where folks don’t see value…well, there’s no reason for them to be there.
Quite frankly, combine that with the disturbing lack of disclosure that’s been so evident lately…
I’m sick to the death of most of what I’m seeing. More than most of it, actually. So color me apathetic. Which means that maybe it’s catching?
Hoo-rah.
|| posted by chris under community, funboard, opinion, thumbs down || comments (4) ||
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