From: petesk@microsoft.com (Pete Skelly)
Subject: Re: Is it just me or are MS employees kids?
Date: 24 Jul 92 10:52:47 GMT
Organization: Microsoft Corporation

In article <1992Jul20.145205.25686@math.ufl.edu> sorrow@maple.circa.ufl.edu writes:
>
< Remarks calling MS employee's Kids and Jerks ignored >

These guidelines are pretty good, although your application of them
is a little too narrow.  It's only fair that if one group of folk
on the net should use them, then Everyone on the net should use them.
(however, these are the advocacy groups.  They were put here so
the crap doesn't spill over into more technical groups)

>
>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.
Why can't I support the competitors product if I like it. 
>
>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.

What should I do if my Company is flamed. i.e. "Smurf Graphics SUCKS, they
are all a bunch of MORONS.  They always will be, and even their mothers
suck". 

That may be a little extreme, but similar things are happening.  Maybe I'm
out of step with fashon, and it's in vogue to hate large software developers.

>
>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'."

Good.
>
>4.  When your product is flamed with real facts:
>
>	DON'T:
>
>		RESPOND AT ALL.  YOU SOUND LIKE IDIOTS.
>
>	DO:
>
>		SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN.

DO: Take these into account.  Fix the problem in the next release.
Try to be responsive to the needs of your customers.

5.  When you feel a need to flame 'cause your friends are, or 'cause you're
insecure about a product you bought, or 'cause you're on a bad trip.

DONT: touch your keyboard.
DO: Go out and get a candy bar, pizza, etc.  Take a nice, hot bath, 
Take some Valium.

>
>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.

instead of internet corporations, could you please use internet users.  If just
the corporations act reasonable, then Students and Private Users have free run
of the system to flame any corporation, of employee they want.  I think with
the predominant anti-corporate feelings in many students and private users,
they tend to forget that us corporate employees are just people, like them.
Heck, a lot of the students will end up changing their minds anyway when it
comes time to find jobs ;)
>
>Brian

petesk@microsoft.com (I didn't even mention another real corporation)
My Opinions.
Happy Happy.....Joy Joy
Newsgroups: comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy