[Glastonbury] Re: Document formats

[tim hall]

On Friday 23 September 2005 11:28, Martin Wheeler wrote:
> On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 info at wccl.co.uk wrote:
> > since they can't convert docs sent in other formats and
> > often don't even know what another format might be?
>
> As a corporate trainer, I can assure you that this is normally due to
> plain and simple PIG IGNORANCE.  (Sorry, pig.)

Why do we use this phrase? Pigs are remarkably intelligent creatures who can 
be trained in a rather brute Pavlovian style to use computers. Why don't we 
say 'SHEEP IGNORANT'? The mentality is much more sheep like, if we're going 
to use animal metaphors. Oh and no flames please, I'm vegetarian. ;)

[snipped]

> > Trouble is, we had to surrender... We can't carry on business if our
> > clients are tied to Word and no other and of the absolutely unshakeable
> > opinion only Word exists and Word is the standard etc etc........
>
> I know it's difficult, but my own experience (coupled with my 'awkward'
> personality) meant that in the end I made it *very* clear to my clients
> what my attitude is, and just stopped working with the MS-only crowd, and
> told them to go elsewhere.
> It *can* be done.  I stopped accepting MS-only training 4-5 years ago, and
> frankly, haven't noticed any loss.  Contrariwise, people now know I'm a
> Un*x/Linux specialist, and actively seek me out the more.
> You *can* make it work.
> And the fact that you have the strength to resist brainless attitudes such
> as: "Oh, but it's the _standard_" just adds to the gradual erosion of the
> MS monopoly.
>
> > Well, one can but work in OOffice and subversively convert it to Word.
>
> Yup.  And provide your clients with free copies of OOo to run under MS as
> well.
>
> > I may,
> > following on my own query re alterations in the codes, decide to send
> > everything as pdf and see if I get complaints about that.
>
> I haven't so far.  And I now get far more demand for pdf traffic than for
> generic wp traffic.  (The distaste for MSWord is slowly but surely
> spreading, and the increasing demand for pdf is just one sign of this.)

I think this particular government blunder might be a good argument for 
insisting that people comply with Open Standards, albeit that some of them 
still need defining. It is hard. Most of the people I deal with just assume 
that everyone can read and write Word docs and if you're working as part of 
an organisation, then use of document formats has to be included in official 
procedure and implemented, when you're self employed you can get away with 
much more obstinacy.

We can and should insist that the correct format for text is .pdf or just good 
old plain text, the correct format for images is .png and the correct format 
for audio is .ogg. However we also have to be realistic about the fact we're 
fighting a combination of deliberate Vendor Lock-in and unwitting ignorance. 
I remember that some (older?) browsers don't deal with PNGs well. Mac users 
can't listen to OGG Vorbis files (well they can, but _you_ try to explain to 
a mac user how to install XMMS ;) - My current policy is that everything gets 
released as .ogg and I might get round to offering a streamed .mp3 version of 
some of them, when I can be bothered to do it. It's hard to gauge how many 
potential customers I'm losing by doing this.

The big argument against using Word documents is that it's a PROVEN SECURITY 
RISK. As a computer expert, it should be possible to bring the shutters down 
permanently with this.

I remember one member of the Socialist Workers' Party one said to me 
"Capitalism is a big ugly beast, you can't just trim its claws", much as I 
disagree with pretty much everything the SWP ever stood for, I have to admit 
he had a point.
-- 
cheers,

tim hall
http://glastonburymusic.org.uk/tim