It is to laugh

[mdlbear]

(from slashdot)

Eric Raymond gets a recuiting letter from Microsoft

I called Mike Walters, who told me my name had been passed to him by his research team. I indicated to him that I thought somebody was probably having a little joke at his expense, and promised him an email reply.

The reply, in turn, is an absolutely classic bit of flamage. Well worth a read.

Comments

[sbisson.livejournal.com]

To be honest I thought ESR's response was childish and self-agrandising. He had a chance to be funny and incisive and blew it completely in pureile bombast worthy of a 13 year old - not a "community leader".

[mdlbear]

Many of the comments agree with you; he was clearly going for "over the top" rather than polite and rational dialog. Could have been done much better.

I'm sure Eric sees himself as a community leader, but he's really more of a highly articulate and insightful pamphleteer.

[sbisson.livejournal.com]

And unfortunately one who believes in his own self-publicity.