I have to agree with Andy. While Bob is trying to spread the word of Linux, and allow people to see the shortcomings of MS and their products. My thought is that you "Need" to be professional about it. Even if you word things very carefully, many people take offense at what the message says. I been on both receiving and giving side, as I'm sure most everyone has as well. With Bob, he's kind of in a dangerous situation. He's doing what he feels right by spreading the word of Linux, as well as trying to help out his clients to come to a better solution. However, people take offense at some trivial things like this even with the most carefully of worded e-mails. Or footers of e-mails. I don't know how many of RT's clients are primarily Windows users, but regardless, if he makes them mad at him/RT because of something he puts on an e-mail he loses business. While I still use Windows (about 50% of the time), and I prefer Linux and want to see if prosper, I still take a negative approach to e-mails that spew forth negativiy towards MS in a spiteful manner. If you want me (or clients) to see how much of a better solution Linux is than Windows, try doing something like the following (but keep it short): example of a footer on company e-mail: %company% is a Linux solutions provider. If you would like to see how linux could be a better alternative for you and your company, please check out the following information: http://linux_links.com http://linux_compared_to_windows.com If this has sparked some interest in you, please feel free to inquire... People react negatively towards "forced feeding" of ideas and thoughts. Let them make the decision of whether they want to look into it or not, also allow them to feel like they are making a choice to better themselves or their company. On Mon, 4 Feb 2002 18:20:54 -0600 (CST) andy at theasis.com wrote: > Many of the people who post to this list make horrible errors in > spelling > and grammar, clearly beyond simple typos. One could claim that English > speakers should be aware of these errors and their effects, and bounce > back mails with commentary on how things should be spelled or worded. Do > you think anyone would be pissed off by that? > > Such presumption puts people off and closes their minds very quickly. > Even > if you try to be polite, people will be offended or otherwise bothered > by > either your choice of words or your attempts to push your message on > them. > If the message is only some word *you* want to promote regardless of > whether someone wants to hear it, then header, attachment, or a whole > mail, then I don't see how it's better than spam. If it really is > important to the recipients, you don't get through to them by pissing > them > off. If you want to make a positive difference you need to get their > attention in a way that they'll respond to in a non-negative way. > > > Personally, Bob can put whatever the hell he wants in his e-mail. If > you > > That's true for anyone. But if you actually have a goal, the reasons for > doing something like this should be evaluated in terms of the results > you > actually get, not those you *think* you should get. > > Andy (a different one)