Microsoft's Betrayal: Take Action!

As Big Time Parrot pointed out in an earlier diary, Microsoft's reversal on GLBT anti-discrimination legislation in Washington State is not only unjust and uncivil but also bad business.

This is going to come back to bite them...big time. And it should.

Americablog offers a great overview of the recent happenings out of Redmond. Check it out if you haven't already.

I decided to put this diary together -- my first, so go easy! -- because I haven't been able to find any constructive online resource for how to take steps to make sure Microsoft knows how saddened, displeased, and OUTRAGED many of us are. They need to know there will be consequences.

More below the fold...including ACTION STEPS.

What can we do? Here are a few ideas.

1. Write emails to many or all of the general email addresses at Microsoft, including Investor Relations. I suppose calling up couldn't hurt either. Let them know that we progressives see this as the complete abandonment of the CIVIL RIGHTS of many of the company's employees and neighbors. If the company is so concerned about not offending "the other side," who's civil rights are next? Also let them know we'll seek and find alternatives to Microsoft products if they don't make amends.

2. Make sure this news spreads like wildfire across the Web -- not only on political blogs but also tech-oriented and tech-recruiting blogs and sites. If Microsoft refuses to back down, one major risk to them is in employee recruitment. Software development is all about creativity. Microsoft's "change of heart" last week (read: backstabbing) could motivate highly creative talent to seek employment with competitors that actually have INTEGRITY, including any of a number of exciting startups we haven't even heard of yet. Such a drain could prove devastating to Microsoft.

3. Community action. Consider what we'll need to do next if, after a grace period of a week or two, Microsoft doesn't once again show FULL support of the GLBT community. Options include:
   

• Supporting Apple in whatever way possible (buying Macs instead of Windows-based PCs, using QuickTime over Windows Media Player, etc.);
  
• Boycotting MSN Search in favor of Google, Yahoo!, or others (hardly a sacrifice there);
  
• If you can't live without Windows, using Google Desktop Search and other Web-based add-ons in place of Microsoft products designed for interacting with and enhancing the Windows desktop;
  
• If in a corporate decision-making role, encouraging the use of Linux over Windows-based servers whenever possible; and
  
• Organizing and participating in demonstrations in Redmond and whatever other cities in which Microsoft has a significant presence.

I can't think of other options at this point, but I'm sure there are many. Please share your ideas!

We can't let them get away with this. No way.

•  Simply Mepis

  www.mepis.org

  posting from a wireless dell that was up and running using Mepis linux in nothing flat, easier install than Windows, and just (maybe more) user-friendly. highly reccomend it.

  Apple ain't no picnic either. They're evil and corporate and insidious; just in their own very aesthetically soothing way.

  by mitch2k2 on Sat Apr 23, 2005 at 07:20:52 PM PDT

  •  and did i mention

    Mepis is an operating system that's much more stable, loaded with all the apps you'll nee to do everything you want to do with your PC, and you can download it F-R-E-E.....

    get the corporate monkey off your back.

    by mitch2k2 on Sat Apr 23, 2005 at 07:26:01 PM PDT

•  We need to get organized so we don't fade

  away - I am hoping that John will handel some of that - the first thing needed is a dedicated website and/or blog.

  Then we need to collect ideas and co-ordinate.

  Personally I think a boycot of windows or move to apple is a waste of time - it wouldn't even be noticed.

  We need to find ways to hit where they are vunerable.

  One place is IE - we need to promote Firefox - it is better and it is free.

  We need to kill everything MSN like search - Goodle is much better anyway and "Do No Evil" is a better corporaate motto.

  If we could help people switch from Office to OpenOffice that would be huge - and we would be helping our base save a fortune.
  

  by tiponeill on Sat Apr 23, 2005 at 07:22:43 PM PDT

•  Americablog has this issue covered

  Go over there and check out John Aravosis' posts on this situation.  I especially like the idea of throwing monkey wrenches into their plans to expand their headquarters.

  As John put it so well, they fucked with the wrong faggot.

  by beemer on Sat Apr 23, 2005 at 07:23:41 PM PDT

•  run this image on your blogs

  

  (via my blog, Pam's House Blend, or the artist's site, Mike Tidmus, who shared the logo with me).

  Show solidarity that you're committed to any or all of itskevin's suggestions for action against Microshaft.

  by pamindurham on Sat Apr 23, 2005 at 08:54:56 PM PDT

  •  Let's use this image everywhere.

    And thanks for all that you're doing on this issue, Pam.

    by itskevin on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 12:12:35 PM PDT

•  "Download Firefox Day"

  The comments on AmericaBlog had a good suggestion: put together an official "Download Firefox Day."  Of course this has no impact on MS's bottom line, but it's a statement of protest.  That can be followed with a "Download OpenOffice Day," which could potentially have an effect on MS's profits, if OpenOffice ever catches on.  (It's an open source office suite, free, and fully compatible with MS Office.)  Anyway, you get the idea.  
  

  by yatdave on Sat Apr 23, 2005 at 09:08:32 PM PDT

•  MICROSOFT EMAIL , PHONE NUMBERS -- CALL 'EM BIGOTS

  That's what I do at least once every 24 hours, call and/or email 'em, TO REMIND THEM THEY'RE BIGOTS and that I'M BUYING A MAC!

  Here are some contacts from America Blog and a couple other email addresses I gleaned from their website.

  Hey, ANYBODY GOT MORE MICROSOFT EMAIL ADDRESSES OR PHONE NUMBERS?

  Call Microsoft's director of Government Relations, Jack Krumholtz, at tel. [phone] and tell him:

  • You know about Microsoft secretly pulling its support for the Washington state gay rights bill, and you're not happy about Microsoft kissing up to anti-gay bigots.

  • You demand that Microsoft IMMEDIATELY and PUBLICLY endorse the gay rights bill in Washington state, and demand that Microsoft publicly repudiate its new policy of backing-off of support for the civil rights of gays and lesbians and other Americans.

  • Tell him that if the Washington state gay rights bill dies on Friday, Microsoft's reputation goes down with it.

  2. Contact these other contacts for Microsoft and its public relations reps and tell them the same thing:

  - Jim Desler,
  Microsoft US
  425-703-6061
  [e-mail]

  - Dirk Delmartino,
  Microsoft Europe
  [phone]
  [e-mail]

  - The firm handling public policy for Microsoft in DC:
  The Glover Park Group
  Washington, DC
  202-337-0808

  - The firm handling Microsoft's "rapid response" to questions:
  Waggener Edstrom Rapid Response Team
  [e-mail]
  503-443-7070

  - Media Relations for Microsoft
  Global Communications & Television
  [phone]
  [e-mail]

  - Microsoft Investor Relations
  Curt Anderson
  [phone]

  • Walt McGraw, Edelman, [phone], [e-mail]

  • Shon Damron, Edelman, [phone], [e-mail]

  • Carlos de Leon,tel. [phone], or [e-mail]

  • Katie Goldberg, tel. [phone], or [e-mail]

   [e-mail], [e-mail]

  by judybrowni on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 12:58:23 AM PDT

  •  Great list

    Thanks, Judy! Let's send these folks some emails.

    by itskevin on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 12:01:12 PM PDT