It sounds very heroic. I'll keep and eye out for further enlightenment.
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Barnes
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 8:01 AM
Subject: Re: [flexcoders] The different between generial Flex 3 and Flex 3
Profesional?
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
To: [email protected]
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
To: [email protected]
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
To: [email protected]
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>
My Company: <http://www.dot-com-it.com>
My Podcast: <http://www.theflexshow.com>
My Blog: <http://www.jeffryhouser.com>
--
Regards,
Scott Barnes
http://www.mossyblog.com
