I thought of a number of replies to this thread, but I'm sure this is going nowhere? Suffice to say:
"..You don't change the course of history by turning the faces of portraits to the wall.." I'd rather spend more of my time influencing our future, then trying to defend our past? As I had no input or control over the previous folks before me. I don't think the community is in such a fragile state to suddenly firewall itself away from the Microsoft brand. Reading the below it almost sounds as if my "infomercial" will in turn suddenly cause a mass exodus from Flex? People's technology adoption behaviour is a lot more complex than a product fact placement in a random list?. Protect your community yes, but don't blind them as their ability to see will be that much more diminished. Scott. Product Manager Microsoft. On Sun, Jun 1, 2008 at 10:49 PM, Paul Andrews <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Scott, > > Wow . Well maybe. > > I'm trying to make my mind up about whether I should really be bothered > about your presence or not. As I said in another post, I've seen similar > things in another technical area and the helpful posts were more about > promotion of the rival technology rather than really helping the community. > In the case in question the helpful posts contained very valid information > for the community, particularly at first, but gradually the posts had > subtexts inferring the superiority of the rival product and even at one > stage offers of discounting to encourage people to jump ship. Then, as here, > the poster was an expert in using both technologies and had many personal > friends on the forum: no mistake about it the guy was loved by the community > he left and really he was exploiting the situation to grow users of his > product. His interventions split the community badly and eventually he > desisted. Anyway, that gives an idea of where I come from. That particular > forum often has discussions about the merits of the two products involved > and generally it's not provocative. > > I'm not saying that you are behaving as this guy did, but for me there's an > echo of what happened elsewhere. > > Seeing your posts really unsettled me. Maybe I'm wrong. Given your position > at Microsoft, it's inevitable that your aim must be to encourage users of > rival technologies to adopt your technologies. If you don't have that aim > Microsoft recruited the wrong person. As impartial as you may try to be in > your posts they effectively are an infomercial. > > I have no idea if Adobe staff are regularly correcting misconceptions on > Silverlight forums. If they are, as a silverlight user, I'd have similar > feelings. > > Ultimately developers will cross over and mix technologies and I'm not > bothered about that. It's when the actual parties get involved that I get > nervous. > > I think I've made my point, as have you and others. I'm going to let things > be. Just don't offer any discounts here for Silverlight for Flex > developers.. ;-) > > Paul > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Scott Barnes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > *To:* flexcoders@yahoogroups.com > *Sent:* Monday, June 02, 2008 6:04 AM > *Subject:* Re: [flexcoders] The different between generial Flex 3 and Flex > 3 Profesional? > > wow :) > > I only joined Microsoft in 2007 (prior to which I was on this list coding > away in Flex since this list was born), I don't know what we did prior to > 2007 nor do I really care (can't change the past, can only influence the > future!), suffice to say while I'm on the job, the tactics and strategies > aren't underhanded and the compete is kept clean (which we have been really > good about). That being said, when I see assumptions or inaccurate > information being presented in a forum (couldn't care as to what theme or > where) i'll simply step forward, make sure our opinion is heard and step > back. I don't draw battle lines, I don't buy into "this is our gangs turf, > go to your own" mentality as to me it just is a waste of brain matter to > think in that mode. Suffice to say, should you still think it's not > appropriate, Adobe Staffers have done similar posts to this on Silverlight > related forums? (which I welcome! as I'm sure folks in the .NET community > aren't kind to Adobe messaging either). > > It doesn't bother me that folks dislike Silverlight or say negative things > about it, if it's not for you, great, enjoy Flex and all the best. I'd > rather you dislike us with an accurate amount of information vs reading a > friend of a friends blog post or picked up some random text byte on a forum > somewhere. > > I'd encourage all to interact with various communities (don't be restricted > by just one technology, explore more), as you learn more about your approach > by seeing how others complete theirs. > > All the best and have another glass of wine! :) (if it's good, keep the > flow going!). > > Scott Barnes > Product Manager > Microsoft. > > On Sat, May 31, 2008 at 4:27 PM, Paul Andrews <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> oops too much red wine. >> >> I was going to say "I wouldn't have been been bothered if it had been >> anyone but a senior MS guy". Don't worry about resurrecting this argument, >> I'm crawling back under my stone on this one. >> >> Paul >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> *From:* Paul Andrews <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> *To:* flexcoders@yahoogroups.com >> *Sent:* Sunday, June 01, 2008 12:23 AM >> *Subject:* Re: [flexcoders] The different between generial Flex 3 and >> Flex 3 Profesional? >> >> No. I just think that when it's the head of a rival technology company >> technology, it's different. Clearly, it's not the general view so there's no >> point in making more of it. I wouldn't have been been bothered. It seems I >> shouldn't be bothered anyway, it seems. >> >> Paul >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> *From:* Jeffry Houser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> *To:* flexcoders@yahoogroups.com >> *Sent:* Saturday, May 31, 2008 9:18 PM >> *Subject:* Re: [flexcoders] The different between generial Flex 3 and >> Flex 3 Profesional? >> >> >> One of my friends, a long time ColdFusion Developer has been doing a lot >> of work with Ruby lately. Are you saying it's wrong for him to talk to me >> about Ruby? >> >> I'm not grokking the basis of your argument. >> >> Paul Andrews wrote: >> >> I guess I'm the agressive one. I've seen other products where former >> practictioners of product A have moved to rival company B and return to >> their former haunts to help out company A's customers with their insight. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Jeffry Houser >> Flex, ColdFusion, AIR >> AIM: Reboog711 | Phone: 1-203-379-0773 >> -- >> Adobe Community Expert >> <http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/members/JeffryHouser.html> >> <http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/members/JeffryHouser.html> >> My Company: <http://www.dot-com-it.com> <http://www.dot-com-it.com/> >> My Podcast: <http://www.theflexshow.com> <http://www.theflexshow.com/> >> My Blog: <http://www.jeffryhouser.com> <http://www.jeffryhouser.com/> >> >> > > > -- Regards, Scott Barnes http://www.mossyblog.com
