[Liverpool] Software freedom (problems at the University)

[Vladimir]

Tim, it's both. To get connected - as a top priority now
(and probably easiest to achieve). And then - looking into the mess with the
policies there.
One particular problem in communications remains though. It is that they
don't let you
contact anyone else (who, let's say could be inventing the rules, etc). The
only port of
call is their email. They even wouldn't really listen to you when you come
down to the
support desk. They tell you to send them an email, that they will pass to
someone.
So far I made one attempt (3 days ago I think) - wrote a polite email to
them asking to remove
two pdf guides found at the uni website, that contain a misleading
information. And you know
what happened? Absolutely nothing! No reply, no automated reply, nothing.


.v


2009/12/18 Tim Dobson <lists at tdobson.net>

> Ah, ok, I misinterpreted your primary aim.
>
> I had assumed it was "get connected" but I see now it is change the
> TOS/the way they work.
>
> I still stand by my comments with regards to how best to achieve this;
> try and become their friend.
>
> The people who implement the policy, are probably not the people who
> wrote it. The best route is to find those who wrote it and those who
> have the power to change it, and see if they can see where you're coming
> from.
>
> Again, I'd recommend a "softly, softly" approach with short, concise,
> friendly emails with offers of talk on the phone or meeting face to face.
>
> Policy won't change fast, and don't expect it to, but it is possible to
> change through friendly correspondence with the right person.
>
> Tim
>
> Vladimir wrote:
> > You see, Tim, as the person who used to admin a network myself, I do
> > understand the
> > magic of the crate of beer. The problem here is that after I will get my
> > linux laptop
> > connected, the rest is not about me and the BOFH. It's about /policy/.
> > That policy they
> > seem use as a magic get-out wand. As soon as they are pointed to what is
> > not right
> > in their actions they shout /policy/! So I can't buy a crate of beer to
> > the policy, do I?
> > The problem is that there's no access to see what this policy is. Maybe
> > Dave could
> > enlighten me on this matter? And seeing the TOS would be nice too. As
> > for them -
> > I think that the TOS are simply non-existant. What I know for sure is
> > that refusing
> > to connect my Linux system on the basis that it is on the hardware they
> > don't like
> > or that it had an operating system of a wrong type in the past violates
> > my student rights,
> > as their wages are paid from my pocket.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 2009/12/18 Tim Dobson <lists at tdobson.net <mailto:lists at tdobson.net>>
> >
> >     Dave Love wrote:
> >     > Vladimir <vladimir.jakubovskij at gmail.com
> >     <mailto:vladimir.jakubovskij at gmail.com>> writes:
> >     >
> >     >> But I want to teach them a lesson.
> >     >> I need a laptop of any sort for a couple of days - to change the
> >     mac addr so it matches the
> >     >> hw addr of my macbook, to walk in there, register, close the lid
> >     of the Linux laptop,
> >     >> open the macbook, and say - Hello, you've been framed :D
> >     >
> >     > You might be more careful what you say in public, no matter how
> stupid
> >     > you think people in Computing Services and their rules are -- just
> a
> >     > suggestion.  Merely annoying your BOFH is rarely a good idea, let
> >     alone
> >     > posting something like that potentially in front of them, and I
> assure
> >     > you they don't need lessons on MAC addresses.  If nothing else,
> >     consider
> >     > that this sort of thing (archived) may not give a good impression
> >     of the
> >     > group, and doesn't help any effort to improve support for
> non-Windows
> >     > users in the university in case everyone is tarred with the same
> >     brush.
> >
> >     +1
> >
> >     From [painful and unpleasant] experience, it's generally a case of
> the
> >     Sun and the Wind[1] with Sysadmins, or anyone for that matter. Be
> >     aggressive in your manner, you'll not easily get a cooperative
> response,
> >     be understanding
> >
> >     Teaching people lessons is often tempting but it often makes your
> >     primary objective - getting xyz done, less likely.
> >
> >     The end user who gives them a crate of beer for all the help and
> >     assistance they've given him over the semester probably stands a much
> >     greater chance of establishing cooperation than someone who writes
> >     emails to them telling them they are wrong.
> >
> >     Well, anyway, that's my opinion anyway.
> >
> >     Tim
> >
> >     [1] http://www.rickwalton.com/folktale/bryant21.htm
> >
> >
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> >
> >
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