by Will Hines

I tried for a long time to avoid disliking Microsoft. I mean, it's so cliche.

But now, I must. Because it's finally about to happen. Microsoft is just weeks away from owning all of us, like it's always planned. And not for the reasons you might guess, like its huge profits, or a new technology that will conquer the computer industry.

It is because of a section of Microsoft's web site called the "Site Builder Network," an area of well-organized, insightful tips for building web sites. I had been visiting there for about six months, and valued the information I found. But no longer.

Because one month ago, the "Site Builder Network" became a members-only site. And to join, you don't need to give up any money. It costs something much more precious: freedom.

Microsoft wants us to put its logo on our sites.

Sound harmless?

IT IS THE MOST EVIL, SMARY, MANEUVER I HAVE EVER WITNESSED!

Putting a logo on a web site is a powerful act. It is saying to the world: "I approve of this company." That's no small thing, especially for Microsoft. Remember, for all of its financial success, the one battle Microsoft has consistently lost is that of public perception. Despite relentless television commercials that show it as agent of fun, people continue to view it as a Microsoft as a world-eating, soulless corporation.

So now Microsoft is acting like a co-dependent crack dealer: "The stuff's free this week, kid. But next week you gotta say you LIKE me..."

What next? To say we saw a Netscape executive dancing with the devil? To tell the President we saw Apple Computer programmers at a meeting of the Communist Party? Or to allow Microsoft representatives drill a computer chip into my skull to beam my thoughts back to Seattle...

Well, I don't give blanket approval without serious consideration. I don't belong to a political party. I don't wear crests on my jackets. I don't sign things without reading them. The only products I endorse unseen are Rykodisc records (because of their fine job re-packaging Elvis Costello's compact discs) and Marvel comics from the 1960's.

If Microsoft wants its logo in my life, they can get it there by selling me products I want. One at a time, each purchased because of its merits.

What angers me is people will fall for this. Everyone will happily stick the logo on his or her site, giddy to save some cash, until all of our web sites will look like fraternity sweatshirts. The Internet community will become the Sneetches, the Dr. Seuss characters who scrambled to put green stars on their yellow bellies so they could look like everyone else.

The only herd I'm joining is the one which detests the biggest software company in the world.

It's too bad I have to do this, because I used to like Microsoft. And defending it was fun, just to see everyone get riled up. Kinda like the sick satisfaction you might feel by stubbornly supporting Republican jerks in a room full of flower children.

But if my choice must be between blindly accepting a company, or blindly condemning them - then my path is clear. Consider the green star torn from my belly! Let this web site stand as a tribute to the individual freedom of the Internet, and a strike against those who would have us give consent without consideration!