From: sorrow@maple.circa.ufl.edu
Newsgroups: comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy,comp.os.os2.advocacy
Subject: Is it just me or are MS employees kids?
Date: 20 Jul 92 14:52:05 GMT
Reply-To: sorrow@maple.circa.ufl.edu
Organization: Center for Instructional and Research Computing Activities


I have to finally say something about this....why in the hell are most
of the Microsoft employees on the Internet a bunch of childish humorless
jerks?  I mean, seriously, we had to contend with Gordon Letwin's 
ridiculous comments on comp.os.os2.misc for the longest time ( granted,
a lot of them were incited, but STILL ), and now we have to deal
with Microsoft on the various advocacy groups having heart attacks
the minute someone makes a slightly derogatory remark.

The fact is, kids, why don't you follow OTHER corporations leads on
this one?  I mean, I don't expect your behaviour to be perfect, but
having employees from Microsoft outright flaming people over small
niggling comments is ridiculous.  The guys over at Borland ( sidney,
peteb, donahn, etc. ) have displayed exemplary behaviour when
discussing their products and competitors products.  I haven't spoken
to them directly, but here are some general guidelines it seems that
they have been following:

	1.  If a post is flaming a competitor, do NOT join in or plug
	your product with a reply.
	2.  If a post is flaming you and is using fact as its basis,
	ignore it ( don't create a new thread devoted to childish
	flames ).
	3.  If a post is flaming you with incorrect facts, kindly
	reply ( in a *professional* manner ) that the facts used as
	the basis of that post were incorrect, and post the correct
	facts with sources.

Seems so simple, doesn't it?  The only place I have seen Microsoft
employees employ this strategy has been on comp.lang.c++.  But
everywhere else, if given an opportunity, MS employees go stark
raving mad when given an opportunity...here are some examples of
suggested behaviour when given certain situations:

1.  When a competitor's product is flamed:

	DON'T:

		"Well, that's because they implemented a faulty
		standard, and that explains all the bugs they have.
		OUR product doesn't do that because we used this and
		that as our test suite."

	DO:

		Absolutely nothing.  Shut up.

2.  When a your product is flamed in general ( i.e. "Windows sucks!" )

	DON'T:

		"Yeah?  Well, OS/2 is no marvel either...have you seen
		Netware or DVX?  They suck much worse...what are your
		alternatives?"

	DO:

		Either nothing, or ask the poster to clarify.

3.  When your product is flamed with false facts:

	DON'T:

		"You are so full of crap.  Where do you get your information?
		IBM?  I suppose you BELIEVE that IBM press release, right?
		Where are they getting THEIR facts?  Do you KNOW Bill
		Gates?" ( Why do MS employees always say that? )

	DO:

		"Your statement of 'quote' was incorrect.  If you look at
		the Reference, pg. xxx, you will note that this 'quote' is
		actually this 'new quote'."

4.  When your product is flamed with real facts:

	DON'T:

		RESPOND AT ALL.  YOU SOUND LIKE IDIOTS.

	DO:

		SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN.

Anyway, these are my general guidelines, and I wish that the rest of
the internet corporations would follow them....cheers to Borland and the 
other guys who know when to shut up.

Brian
Newsgroups: comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy,comp.os.os2.advocacy