Friendly conference organizer:
Mr. Stallman, welcome to St. Louis. We're very excited to have you here for our event.
Stallman:
Yes.
Friendly conference organizer:
And I'm glad you flew in 24 hours in advance; it will give you some time to enjoy our city. That is, if you're not too busy doing work.
Stallman:
Please don't try to pressure me to "relax."
Friendly conference organizer:
I wasn't trying to...
Stallman:
Surely you do not really want me to have to work double tomorrow.
Friendly conference organizer:
No no no. There's just a lot to see here in the Gateway to the West, and I thought if you'd like some advice on how to spend your day.
Stallman:
I enjoy natural beauty such as mountains and rocky coasts, ancient buildings, impressive and unusual modern buildings, and trains.
Friendly conference organizer:
Well...we may be able to find something with trains...
Stallman:
I also like caves, and if there is a chance to go caving I would enjoy that. I am just a novice as a caver.
Friendly conference organizer:
I'm happy to have you stay at my house, Mr. Stallman. I hope you find the couch comfortable, I vacuumed all the cat hair off of it. And here, let me get you a fresh set of sheets.
Stallman:
Thank you. I like this much more than staying in a hotel.
Friendly conference organizer:
Great!
Stallman:
It's a bit warm in here, though.
Friendly conference organizer:
Is it? I guess I'm used to it.
Friendly conference organizer:
Thank you for coming, Mr. Stallman. We’re about to begin. I trust your trip was comfortable?
Stallman:
It was indeed comfortable, but an economy class seat would have been good enough.
Friendly conference organizer:
It was the least we could do - we know how much you like to fit work in whenever you can and thought it would be easier for you in business class.
Stallman:
The extra price of a business class ticket would be a lot more useful to me if I can spend it on something else. How about you pay the extra to me as a speakers fee instead? Cash is fine.
Friendly conference organizer:
Oh, I’m sorry…. I’ll see what I can do about the return ticket. Otherwise, are you comfortable?
Stallman:
I am quite sleepy.
Friendly conference organizer:
Sorry to hear that - can I get you something to drink? A diet coke, perhaps?
Stallman:
There is an international boycott of the Coca Cola company for killing union organizers in Colombia and Guatemala. See killercoke.org.
FFriendly conference organizer:
Ah, I think I remember seeing that once when I was on the Internet.
Stallman:
You mean web browsing.
Friendly conference organizer:
Yes, of course.
Stallman:
If someone doesn’t understand the difference between “Internet” and “web browsing”, that person is not competent to give reliable information.
Friendly conference organizer:
…. How about a diet Pepsi?
Stallman:
I dislike the taste of all diet soda. I would like two cans of Pepsi.
Friendly conference organizer:
Okay, I think we have some bottles, I’ll find you a couple.
Friendly conference organizer:
Mr. Stallman, we're very excited for you to visit us next week.
Stallman:
Yes.
Friendly conference organizer:
Do you enjoy art?
Stallman:
I often find museums interesting, but it depends on the subject.
Friendly conference organizer:
There's a great new show at the museum opening while you are here, and a few of are thinking of going the night before the event if you'd like to join us.
Stallman:
I will probably want to do a few hours of sightseeing.
Friendly conference organizer:
This really wouldn't be sightseeing...
Stallman:
Please don't assume I want to see something just because it is customary to take visitors there.
Friendly conference organizer:
OK! Well, if you're not interested, that's fine...
Stallman:
That place may be of no interesst with me. Instead, please tell me about possible places to visit -- then I can say what I would like.
Friendly conference organizer:
Well, this would be one possible place.
