MVPs fired...
Robert Scoble
bitter, that's why.
See news://news.devx.com/off.ramp for the details and discussion.
Robert Scoble
NetMeeting MVP
###
Paul Felce
Paul F
Robert Scoble wrote in message <#letVbFH$GA.204@cppssbbsa05>...
Frank Carr
>Microsoft today ended the MVP program, so if the MVPs here seem a little
>bitter, that's why.
A few questions, Robert....
As you may know, I've been a VB MVP since 1994. I haven't received the
letter you mentioned yet via email. Was it sent to you via email or by snail
mail?
If it is true, and since I know you from CompuServe days I assume that it
is, I'm pretty pissed off. It shows that the suits, lawyers, and pointy
haired bosses have taken over Microsoft. I've always said that Microsoft
always manages to piss off at least one VB guru a year. It looks like
they're trying the shotgun approach this time. Unless this changes, I've
answered my last VB question on Internet newsgroups. I'll need to devote my
spare time to learning Linux and Java. If the "anybody but Microsoft"
consortium is listening, it would be an excellent opportunity for them to
gain some new friends.
Frank Carr
jfc...@msn.com
Jerry D. Turner
Paul Felce <Pa...@statpro.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7upntg$i6i$2...@newsreader3.core.theplanet.net...
> Are you sure that is the right URL?
>
> Paul F
>
> >Microsoft today ended the MVP program, so if the MVPs here seem a little
> >bitter, that's why.
> >
> >
> >Robert Scoble
> >NetMeeting MVP
> >
> >###
> >
> >
>
>
That link worked for me. Added a new newsserver to Outlook Express.
Rick Rothstein
Rick
Jerry D. Turner <non...@nodomain.com> wrote in message
news:uAWLTpJH$GA.250@cppssbbsa04...
Klaus H. Probst
for the world to see!
<g>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Klaus H. Probst
http://www.vbbox.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Scoble <rsc...@fawcette.com> wrote in message
news:#letVbFH$GA.204@cppssbbsa05...
Bob Rafuse
open
> for the world to see!
> <g>
A veritable cornucopia of four-letter words!
However, in this case, you are more than justified....
Matt Sargent
grown and we expect this to continue. Due to customer feedback and
requests for more direct Microsoft involvement, we are changing our
newsgroups strategy. Effective 12/1/99, we will be moving to a program
in which technical newsgroups are staffed by Microsoft support
professionals. The MVP program will no longer be in operation
effective 12/1/99," - MS Memo to MVPs
Mark H
> >Microsoft today ended the MVP program, so if the MVPs here seem a little
> >bitter, that's why.
I hope the MVP's didn't think that MS was their friend from the get-go. I
mean really, for the amount of work most of them do, and what MS gives them
in return, I always thought they were being played like a fiddle.(no offense
meant to the MVP's). The status of the tag line I suppose can open a door or
two, but for that amount of work and abuse? No thanks. Not to mention all it
takes is one of your peers to be a dolt to give the entire lot a bad
reputation. ( I can think of one from the old days in win95) I don't mean
to sound harsh, but I think you get what you pay for when you sleep with MS.
But, having spewed all this, I'll certainly miss most of them for their
expertise and the time they gave. I'm just wondering, will they spend the
time once the "title" means nothing?
MH
Brad Martinez
>They got the title because they spent the time. By and large, the
>motivation for spending the time hasn't been removed, just the title.
>Depending on where MS wants us to go after today, some may choose to spend
>the time helping users elsewhere, some may not.
Amen brother. (and no, I'm not religious, at least that
I know of anyway...)
--
Brad Martinez, http://www.mvps.org
Please direct questions/replies to the newsgroup
Steve Rindsberg wrote in message <#sf1T3dH$GA.150@cppssbbsa04>...
>>
>>I hope the MVP's didn't think that MS was their friend from the get-go. I
>>mean really, for the amount of work most of them do, and what MS gives them
>>in return, I always thought they were being played like a fiddle.(no
>offense
>>meant to the MVP's). The status of the tag line I suppose can open a door
>or
>>two, but for that amount of work and abuse? No thanks. Not to mention all
>it
>>takes is one of your peers to be a dolt to give the entire lot a bad
>>reputation. ( I can think of one from the old days in win95) I don't mean
>>to sound harsh, but I think you get what you pay for when you sleep with
>MS.
>>But, having spewed all this, I'll certainly miss most of them for their
>>expertise and the time they gave. I'm just wondering, will they spend the
>>time once the "title" means nothing?
>>
>
>
>They got the title because they spent the time. By and large, the
>motivation for spending the time hasn't been removed, just the title.
>Depending on where MS wants us to go after today, some may choose to spend
>the time helping users elsewhere, some may not.
>
>
>
>
Steve Rindsberg
Mark H
...
I wrote:
> >But, having spewed all this, I'll certainly miss most of them for their
> >expertise and the time they gave. I'm just wondering, will they spend the
> >time once the "title" means nothing?
Steve Rindsberg <drop...@rathole.nul> wrote in message
news:#sf1T3dH$GA.150@cppssbbsa04
> They got the title because they spent the time. By and large, the
> motivation for spending the time hasn't been removed, just the title.
> Depending on where MS wants us to go after today, some may choose to spend
> the time helping users elsewhere, some may not.
You state the obvious as to why they recieved the title. But that is not the
issue.
TimeSpent = Title, Title = status, motivation. Take away Title, Status = 0,
motivation = 0.
Not to mention the perks are gone. Lights out, up and die.
No motivation, no reason to get it up. Look elsewhere for same reward.
Simple really.
Do you think the sheer numbers of MVP's, and the quality of their service
would be what it is *without* the reward of MVP status? Sure, there would be
sharp people helping, but, this is a reward based world, is it not? If not
for tangible reward, then reward the ego. But you can bet your ass that
reward fits in there somewhere. Even if it just makes you feel good about
yourself. See my point? Nothing is for free.
And I'm sure most of them did have more reason than just an MVP badge for
the time, but undeniably, not ALL of them shared in this noble motivation.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool, just hopped off the truck yesterday,
or is employed by the MS marketing division.<g>
I've got no problemo what-so-ever with this motivation. But I think you call
a spade a spade.
Don't throw star-dust in my eyes about how everyone is here to help their
fellow man, because they aren't. Most help themselves first, others second.
Not happy about it, just the way it is
.02
Randy Birch
http://msdnnews.microsoft.com/
--
Randy Birch, MVP Visual Basic
[best if used before 12/1/99]
http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/
http://www.mvps.org/ccrp/
news://news.mvps.org/
Steve Rindsberg
odd VB Deity (and most of them are pretty odd indeed!)
Funny thing, though ... most of them have/had that MVP thing tacked onto
their names. <g>
Brad Martinez wrote in message ...
>Steve,
>
>>They got the title because they spent the time. By and large, the
>>motivation for spending the time hasn't been removed, just the title.
>>Depending on where MS wants us to go after today, some may choose to spend
>>the time helping users elsewhere, some may not.
>
>Amen brother. (and no, I'm not religious, at least that
>I know of anyway...)
>
>--
>Brad Martinez, http://www.mvps.org
>Please direct questions/replies to the newsgroup
>
>
>Steve Rindsberg wrote in message <#sf1T3dH$GA.150@cppssbbsa04>...
>>>
>>>I hope the MVP's didn't think that MS was their friend from the get-go. I
>>>mean really, for the amount of work most of them do, and what MS gives
them
>>>in return, I always thought they were being played like a fiddle.(no
>>offense
>>>meant to the MVP's). The status of the tag line I suppose can open a door
>>or
>>>two, but for that amount of work and abuse? No thanks. Not to mention all
>>it
>>>takes is one of your peers to be a dolt to give the entire lot a bad
>>>reputation. ( I can think of one from the old days in win95) I don't
mean
>>>to sound harsh, but I think you get what you pay for when you sleep with
>>MS.
>>>But, having spewed all this, I'll certainly miss most of them for their
>>>expertise and the time they gave. I'm just wondering, will they spend the
>>>time once the "title" means nothing?
>>>
>>
>>
Steve Rindsberg
the PPT "developers" group. Looks to be pretty much a straight suckup from
the PPT newsgroup on msnews. Only waaaaaayyy slower.
Randy Birch wrote in message ...
Steve Rindsberg
>You state the obvious as to why they recieved the title. But that is not
the
>issue.
>TimeSpent = Title, Title = status, motivation. Take away Title, Status = 0,
>motivation = 0.
>Not to mention the perks are gone. Lights out, up and die.
>No motivation, no reason to get it up. Look elsewhere for same reward.
>Simple really.
It is, if you totally miss the point. Which I'm afraid you have.
TimeSpent=Title, yes. But the necessary precondition for TimeSpent is
motivation. Why spend the time in the first place? Certainly not for a few
perks and letters to tack next to one's name. Anybody can buy the perks
(and putting in the hours shifting burgers at MickeyD's would be a faster
route to the money for that than spending the time on the NGs. The rate of
pay's better.)
>Do you think the sheer numbers of MVP's, and the quality of their service
>would be what it is *without* the reward of MVP status?
I know it would be. I've met a lot of the MVPs. I am one of them, though
not for VB. I think I'm a little better qualified to generalize about the
motivations than most, and in the end, it doesn't matter. Watch. See if
they all disappear now that the perks and acronyms are discontinued.
>reward fits in there somewhere. Even if it just makes you feel good about
>yourself. See my point? Nothing is for free.
Now there you've hit it square on. It does feel good and its sure as heck
rewarding to help other people. No question there. Whether MS approves of
that or not, whether they reward it or not isn't relevant. And I think if
you ask any of the MVPs, most of them will tell you that they learn as much
from helping as the people they help. That's certainly a reward as well.
>Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool, just hopped off the truck yesterday,
>or is employed by the MS marketing division.<g>
>
I wouldn't presume to speak for all of the MVPs. Would you?