ISO Calls For OOXML Ceasefire

In response to the continued attacks on Microsoft's OOXML standard, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has called for a ceasefire. "Last week the ISO committee in charge of document standards, SC 34, met in Oslo to discuss the way forward for OOXML and ODF. The plenary session was marked by protests outside, largely carried out by delegates from a nearby open-source conference. The protesters were calling for OOXML to be withdrawn from ISO standardization -- something that could theoretically happen if a national standards body were to protest against its own vote within the next month or two."

Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity

[Maxo-Texas]

Withdrawing OOOXML is not the only option... In theory, OOOXML could be turned into a reasonable standard so that is the other option. In theory.

Location, Location, Location

[techpawn]

The plenary session was marked by protests outside, largely carried out by delegates from a nearby open-source conference.

Timing + location = success in anything right?

Re:Guerrilla warfare

[Foobar of Borg]

Why is there a call for a cease-fire, anyway? Are Microsoft employees strapping dynamite on themselves and blowing up people at ISO meetings? I can just see a MS code monkey shouting "Ballmer is Great!" before blowing himself and twenty others to smithereens.

Re:Guerrilla warfare

[S.O.B.]

Are Microsoft employees strapping dynamite on themselves and blowing up people at ISO meetings? I can just see a MS code monkey shouting "Ballmer is Great!" before blowing himself and twenty others to smithereens.

Fortunately they are able to apprehend them before the bombs go off because of the popup on their Windows Vista powered detonators, "Blow yourself up in a useless display of Microsoft loyalty, allow or deny?"

Re:Cart before the Horse

[Anonymous Coward]

Valued Microsoft Customers,

We'd like to introduce you to our newest business partner, Softmicro!

Softmicro creates and distributes the Softmicro Office software suite; very similar in many respects to the Microsoft Office software suite.

Having partnered with Microsoft, and after a long period of testing these two completely independent Office suites, we have determined that they are 100% cross-compatible.

Microsoft and Softmicro have also reached an agreement to support each other in both marketing efforts and customer support. In fact, we hope that you find Micrsoft and Softmicro to be indistinguishable from one another.

Thank you,

Bill Gates

Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity

[Maxo-Texas]

Oh come on... by the time OOOXML is a usable standard, all the patents will have expired.

Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity

[Anonymous Coward]

Stop whining!

I will if you pay me the $699 "cessation of complaints" fee, you cocksmoking teabagger.

Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity

[cp.tar]

In theory, OOOXML could be turned into a reasonable standard so that is the other option. In theory.

In theory, evolutionary pressures could drive pigs to develop wings. In theory.

Please, don't go there.
People nowadays get fat from vast amounts of chicken wings. Can you even begin to fathom how fat people would get from pig wings?

Some things were not meant to be. Or even meant to be thought of.
Now if you would excuse me, I have to go and blind my mind's eye.

Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity

[mysticgoat]

The job of the ISO is not to approve the one -and-only-one standard for a given task. Its job is to be a repository of standards that can be followed by all those whose wish to comply with said standard.

Well said!

There is no reason at all why we shouldn't have 5 different standards for 10mm fine thread nuts and bolts. The more the better!

do you think...

[toby]

You could cram any more genitalia references into your post?