From: "bill dehaan" <bill.dehaan@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy
Subject: microsoft posters
Date: 22 Jul 92 21:55:33 EST
Reply-To: "bill dehaan" <bill.dehaan@canrem.com>
Distribution: comp
Organization: Canada Remote Systems

In article <1992Jul20.062510.929@midway.uchicago.edu>, Min-woong Sohn writes:

PL>      Interesting - I haven't seen much of this at all.  Most of what
PL>I post here is a (fairly futile) attempt to clear up some of the
PL>misconceptions about Windows NT.  I don't have much bad to say about
PL>OS/2 - I haven't used it enough to really make up my mind.  On the
PL>other hand, I have used Windows NT, so should be more qualified to
PL>comment on it than the myriad rumor spreaders on this and other
PL>newgroups.

MS>Poor justification.  Just read several threads under the title of
MS>"Windows quicksand" or "Porting os/2..." or "MS grasping ...."  You'll
MS>get MS employees actively posting news on os/2.

Since many of them DESIGNED and WROTE large portions of OS/2, I'd say that they
have more than a little to contribute in any OS/2 discussions. The fact that
you dislike Microsoft doesn't change the fact that MS has a great deal to do
with OS/2. And as for MS posters posting "demoting" material, what do you
call message titles like "MS grasping at straws"?

And MS employees are hardly required to "justify" their comments. Sure,
its' only fair that when you post from a site called "microsoft.com", you
should point out that the opinions posted are your own, not your companies,
but other than that, you can say what you like. The fact that a C programmer
saw a discussion of Borland C upgrade practices and recommends another
compiler he prefers is hardly the offence you make it out to be. I've posted
the pricing information for IBM's CSET/2 compiler on the net; do I have to
"justify" that to the net? No.

MS>Oh?  You go there again.  I do not impose a school children morality on you,
MS>but you cannot defend yourself on this using the logic that in society one
MS>who cuts corners win the race.  You perhaps have to defend this logic if
MS>this is the understanding you have in using this net.  Also let me kindly
MS>remind you of the fact that I am not a college kid as you might imply.  I am
MS>a sociology Ph.D. candidate who wants to finish his disseration in one year.

MS>I do not know how it works, but I understand at least that one should not
MS>engage in promotion of one's own product in a group that is not explicitly
MS>recognized as such.  Am I wrong?  Do I need to know more to say something
MS>about it?  C'mon.

Yes, you are wrong. Phil understands how Usenet works, and so do I. Blatant
promotion IS frowned upon, certainly. Being abusive and browbeating people
is also frowned apon. Both occur daily in the comp.os.windows groups by the
pro-OS/2 bigots. Correcting someone's misconceptions, and adding factual
information to a discussion (as Phil does) are not only permitted, but
that is (believe it or not) the primary reason for Usenet: the free
dissemination of information.

PL> The disclaimer is intended
PL>to indicate that my statements are not official policy of Microsoft, not
PL>that I am some mythical totally impartial figure.

MS>So it doesn't say anything if at all.  When it means something though, it
MS>carries a different message to a mere mortal like me.

No, it says that Phil works at microsoft, and that his opinions are his own.
If Phil didn't put such a disclaimer, people would be saying that since Phil
posts from microsoft.com, what he says is gospel. What do you expect him to
do? Post from another site because you dislike microsoft.com? Or simply not
post at all?

MS>The same news group as you are in, and still I have only one person
MS>denying this point (of course, he was not from MS).  One does not make
MS>many.  Get the fact, Phil.

"Get the fact", yourself Min. For someone going for a degree in sociology
you don't seem to much of a grasp of the social dynamics required for
remote anonymous communication. Or maybe you're trying to start flamewar
here to further research? See, I can cast aspersions on you just as easily
as you cast them on Phil and Gord. The difference is, I don't take such
aspersions seriously. Neither does anybody else, actually.
---
  SLMR 2.1a  Never show your poker buddies card tricks.
--
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