MVP Question

[Ken Blake, MVP]

You can find a list of all current MVPs at Microsoft's MVP site:

https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx

Not quite all current MVPs. Note that the page states "The Microsoft
MVP Awardee directory contains a listing of all the MVPs that want to
share their information publicly."

However, everyone can be assured that (The Real Truth http://pcbutts1)
is *not* an MVP. He has been asked many times here to provide any
evidence or support for his claim to be an MVP. He has never provided
a shred of evidence or support.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Surely, it should be possible to check a name against the
definitive list of MVPs (even if an individual MVP does not want
to disclose his biographical or other details).

I'm with you entirely, however Microsoft respects the preferences of
any MVP who doesn't want his information made public.

Furthermore, I
would have no objection to the use of a pseudonym, if an MVP has
a genuine reason for anonymity.

I'm with you there too. That should easily take care of the needs of
anyone who doesn't want his name and info made public.

 

[FromTheRafters]

Not under another name ? (As claimed)

In my opinion, it doesn't even come close to the caliber of person the
MVP program hopes to attract. Take for instance its use of a domain name
obviously chosen to trick people into believing it is an official MVP
site. Forget the "badge", just look at its posting history and bad
attittude toward others.

It is of the opinion that David Lipman's program is "crap" - and this is
probably the only reason it hasn't stolen it.

 

[Bruce Hagen]

However, the website at mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
only provides details of those MVPs that want to share their information
publicly.

Yes, that's right.

The MVP programme is far from perfect. But in my experience, most genuine
MVPs are willing - and indeed, greatly desire - to have their details
openly published.
[snipped]

I wish that were so. However, when I scanned through recent contributions
to this newsgroup, I quickly found one from a regular contributor who
describes himself as "MS-MVP [Mail]".

Based upon the quality of his contributions, I have little doubt that the
gentleman is an MVP. However, a search against his name at
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx reports "No results
were found for your search criteria".

Surely, it should be possible to check a name against the definitive list
of MVPs (even if an individual MVP does not want to disclose his
biographical or other details). Furthermore, I would have no objection to
the use of a pseudonym, if an MVP has a genuine reason for anonymity.

Incidentally, I use Windows Live Mail as my Newsreader client program.
WLMail includes some Community Features, which allow for a special icon to
appear against contributions by MVPs. However, very few postings bear the
icon.

Would that be me, Bob? MS gives us only two choices. Remain anonymous, or
have all your personal info made public. I have expressed my opinion in the
past to MS that, IMO there should be an MS certified list of MVPs that the
public can see. IOW, a list of names of all MVPs without revealing personal
info if they do not want it published. Right now, it's all or nothing.

I don't want to sound offensive, but I don't really want to share all the
information in my personal profile with the rest of the world. It is really
no ones business. But I /do/ want the public to be assured that I am not an
impostor.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

: In my opinion, it doesn't even come close to the caliber of person the
: MVP program hopes to attract. Take for instance its use of a domain name
: obviously chosen to trick people into believing it is an official MVP
: site. Forget the "badge", just look at its posting history and bad
: attittude toward others.
:

The MVPs and MS do know that he is *not* a MVP.

 

[HeyBub]

You can find a list of all current MVPs at Microsoft's MVP site:

https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx

Most of the Vista MVPs are under the "Windows Desktop Experience"
category, I think.

The MVP award lasts for 12 months. If someone continues to get
selected, they could remain an MVP for years on end. But if you drop
your MVP, you disappear off the list. So former MVPs are not listed.

So if someone claimed the title "MVP emeritus," there'd be no way of
knowing?

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

: So if someone claimed the title "MVP emeritus," there'd be no way of
: knowing?
:
That is correct.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Precisely...

I wouldn't trust anyone who won't use his or her FULL name on USENET either.
--
DSH [D. Spencer Hines]
Lux et Veritas et Libertas
Vires et Honor

 

[Bob Lucas]

However, the website at
mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx only provides
details of those MVPs that want to share their information
publicly.

Yes, that's right.

The MVP programme is far from perfect. But in my experience,
most genuine MVPs are willing - and indeed, greatly desire -
to have their details openly published.
[snipped]

I wish that were so. However, when I scanned through recent
contributions to this newsgroup, I quickly found one from a
regular contributor who describes himself as "MS-MVP [Mail]".

Based upon the quality of his contributions, I have little
doubt that the gentleman is an MVP. However, a search against
his name at
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx reports
"No results were found for your search criteria".

Surely, it should be possible to check a name against the
definitive list of MVPs (even if an individual MVP does not
want to disclose his biographical or other details).
Furthermore, I would have no objection to the use of a
pseudonym, if an MVP has a genuine reason for anonymity.

Incidentally, I use Windows Live Mail as my Newsreader client
program. WLMail includes some Community Features, which allow
for a special icon to appear against contributions by MVPs.
However, very few postings bear the icon.

Would that be me, Bob? MS gives us only two choices. Remain
anonymous, or have all your personal info made public. I have
expressed my opinion in the past to MS that, IMO there should
be an MS certified list of MVPs that the public can see. IOW, a
list of names of all MVPs without revealing personal info if
they do not want it published. Right now, it's all or nothing.

I don't want to sound offensive, but I don't really want to
share all the information in my personal profile with the rest
of the world. It is really no ones business. But I /do/ want
the public to be assured that I am not an impostor.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA

Bruce

I hope you will accept my assurance that I was not suggesting you
might be an imposter. On the contrary, I have never doubted your
right to use the MVP designation. Perhaps I could also add that
I respect your absolute right to privacy.

However, I do have a problem with the MS attitude, which is less
than helpful. That is the real issue, because newsgroup users
really should have access to a definitive list of all MVPs. That
would go a long way to discouraging spurious claims from the
likes of PCB.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Is that so, "D." Spencer Hines?

 

[Twayne]

I'm with you entirely, however Microsoft respects the preferences of
any MVP who doesn't want his information made public.

They don't necessarily respect it; it's the way it is. They have to, or
suffer the consequences.Why then would such a person be stupid enough to put same in a
newsgroup? And in their sig? It's NA here on the group or a real dummy
othersise, IMO.

I'm with you there too. That should easily take care of the needs of
anyone who doesn't want his name and info made public.

Oh yeah, and they go and post to newsgroups using it? Once an MVP name
is public, there is a way to verify it, period, if the person wishes to
expend the time & effort.



It's really pretty simple: Anyone that doesn't want their staus known
won't use it on a newsgroup. But posers and impersonators might.

IMO you're all making way too much out of this.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

This entire issue is academic...

Because, as has been pointed out by others, one shouldn't trust ANYTHING he
or she gets over USENET -- without double and triple checking it.

And that includes something from an MVP as well -- particularly if you are
being told to make Registry Changes, or something equally complex.

 

[Bruce Hagen]

However, the website at mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
only provides details of those MVPs that want to share their
information publicly.

Yes, that's right.

The MVP programme is far from perfect. But in my experience, most
genuine MVPs are willing - and indeed, greatly desire - to have their
details openly published.
[snipped]

I wish that were so. However, when I scanned through recent
contributions to this newsgroup, I quickly found one from a regular
contributor who describes himself as "MS-MVP [Mail]".

Based upon the quality of his contributions, I have little doubt that
the gentleman is an MVP. However, a search against his name at
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx reports "No
results were found for your search criteria".

Surely, it should be possible to check a name against the definitive
list of MVPs (even if an individual MVP does not want to disclose his
biographical or other details). Furthermore, I would have no objection
to the use of a pseudonym, if an MVP has a genuine reason for anonymity.

Incidentally, I use Windows Live Mail as my Newsreader client program.
WLMail includes some Community Features, which allow for a special icon
to appear against contributions by MVPs. However, very few postings bear
the icon.

Would that be me, Bob? MS gives us only two choices. Remain anonymous, or
have all your personal info made public. I have expressed my opinion in
the past to MS that, IMO there should be an MS certified list of MVPs
that the public can see. IOW, a list of names of all MVPs without
revealing personal info if they do not want it published. Right now, it's
all or nothing.

I don't want to sound offensive, but I don't really want to share all the
information in my personal profile with the rest of the world. It is
really no ones business. But I /do/ want the public to be assured that I
am not an impostor.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA

Bruce

I hope you will accept my assurance that I was not suggesting you might be
an imposter. On the contrary, I have never doubted your right to use the
MVP designation. Perhaps I could also add that I respect your absolute
right to privacy.

However, I do have a problem with the MS attitude, which is less than
helpful. That is the real issue, because newsgroup users really should
have access to a definitive list of all MVPs. That would go a long way to
discouraging spurious claims from the likes of PCB.

No worries, Bob. I knew where you were coming from. And I concur that MS
should supply a valid list to the public. All the people need is a
validation of the person claiming to be an MVP. They don't need to know our
life profiles in detail.

 

[FromTheRafters]

....as if accountability equates to trustworthiness.

Certainly, it gets figured in. If I wanted to be taken seriously (for
nefarious purposes), I would post with a more *real* looking pseudonym.
People should realize that "D. Spencer Hines" as a name in usenet
carries no more trustworthiness than "FromTheRafters" does.

D. Spencer Hines is a nice sounding name, and the latin sig is a nice
touch, but it all makes me wonder what you're selling.

No offense intended.

Precisely...

I wouldn't trust anyone who won't use his or her FULL name on USENET
either.

 

[Twayne]

Not quite all current MVPs. Note that the page states "The Microsoft
MVP Awardee directory contains a listing of all the MVPs that want to
share their information publicly."

Isn't one of the pre-requisites of becoming and MVP that they
reliability and correctly help people in ways that can be observed?
INcluding newsgoups? This excerpt from MS seems to say so:

"...recognized, credible, and accessible individuals with expertise in
one or more Microsoft products who actively participate in online *and*
offline communities to share their knowledge and expertise with other
Microsoft customers."

As for the offline stuff, I have NEVER seen any evidence of an MVP
outside of MS related functions. Also, the wording there is AND, not OR
offline communities.
The wording of not exposing their personal info and status is for
THAT MS SITE! It only means they don't want to be part of a list where
every MVP can be abused. THAT is a rule of privacy that they must
follow. That does NOT mean you can be an MVP and not be ... well, read
the quote above. One can not be anonymous AND accessible.

I've noticed lately a few MVPs have decided to give their areas of
expertise here on the group lately and I applaud them for that. I've
also noticed their answers, when I knew the subject they were posting
about, were clear and concise as they should be, devoid of opinion,
labelling and unwarrented criticisms.

There's a huge problem on this particular group where the MVPs in
general want everyone to think it means they not only know everything
about everything, but they are the only ones that know it. They
actually believe it about themselves, some of them. I'll never forget
the one that responded to one my verification questions a long time ago
that further verification wasn't needed becaue he was an MVP. And yes,
he's still here and still not verifiable as an MVP on the lists.
Think about this: Of the several claimed MVPs here, how many of them
are you aware of their area of highest expertise? Don't ask them; they
won't respond unless it's an imposter looking to further its perceived
importance to the world. Although that particular thread took on a life
of its own, it never did touch the original query and (my words) instead
discussed the audacity of anyone that would ask such a question. Yeah;
I thought it was funny, too. And that's at a time when the title meant
something, too.

Other claimed MVPs break their own rules with impunity and think no
one will ever suspect. Those kind are only here for their own power
trip regardless of their reps and should be bulldozed, IMO. A few
others have changed hat colors over the years as their egos grew and
people began to notice. I think one of two might even need mental help,
but that's the norm for any culture I guess.
You real MVPs, who have kept their status current and are actually
given to to assisting people as you were intended to, are to be lauded
for suffering through all the dilution and bad reps the others have
given to the title.
And finally, if you actually think you are indispensibe here or
anywhere, you are one of the ones that needs to go and get a life so the
real performers can shine through. Perhaps many more people would then
find it interesting to become an MVP.

However, everyone can be assured that (The Real Truth http://pcbutts1)
is *not* an MVP. He has been asked many times here to provide any
evidence or support for his claim to be an MVP. He has never provided
a shred of evidence or support.

Actually, if you want to know that about anyone, contact the
organization directly and ask. I did once, and I got a very respectful
response even though the person had, but no longer carried, the title.
They did assure me he'd never get the title back if he was still using
it, so apparently there is some sort of complete list somewhere, and
maybe even a blackball list, who knows? I know of two that were
suspended for their actions on this group a couple years ago. They
posted about it here, and I actually felt sorry for them because it
seemed like they were railroaded. Finally, they just dropped the title
and continued business as usual - and were no less respected for it.
I don't recall that as a category. Perhaps a super-category or
something, but that's awfully general. Not going to bother checking it
out though; I don't really care that much.

That makes sense and is as it should be. Personally I don't think it's
a crime in any way for an MVP to not have the time/access to keep up
with it all. As Andrew did here, even the "former MVP" sig is
completely acceptable to me, and at least honest.

I guess the reason for my post here is because MVP used to mean
something but this group set in particular is a really bad one for
MVP-ness<g>. It needs a good cleaning IMO.

Cheers,

Twayne

 

[John John (MVP)]

Precisely...

I wouldn't trust anyone who won't use his or her FULL name on USENET either.

Nonsense! Even if you did have their FULL name what makes you think
that they would be more trustworthy? Would you actually do background
checks on persons to make sure that they can be trusted? The Usenet is
what it is, take anything on it as you please and want and leave the
rest to abandon. If you think knowing someone by name makes them
trustworthy I would like to introduce you to Bernie Madoff...

John

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

D. Spencer Hines wrote:

Nonsense! Even if you did have their FULL name what makes you think that
they would be more trustworthy?

Balderdash. I didn't say they would be more trustworthy, or that I would
trust them. Read more carefully.

Would you actually do background checks on persons to make sure that they
can be trusted? The Usenet is what it is, take anything on it as you
please and want and leave the rest to abandon.

Teaching grandma to suck eggs.

If you think knowing someone by name makes them trustworthy I would like
to introduce you to Bernie Madoff...

Total Non Sequitur.

Here's another pogue who calls himself an MVP but is too cowardly even to
use his name.

 

[Unknown]

You have to be an idiot to use your real name in these groups. And, I might
add, John John is not an idiot.
How long do you think it would take anyone to find you in Maryland?

 

[John John (MVP)]

Balderdash. I didn't say they would be more trustworthy, or that I would
trust them. Read more carefully.


Teaching grandma to suck eggs.


Total Non Sequitur.

Here's another pogue who calls himself an MVP but is too cowardly even to
use his name.

We pretty well see where you come from. There are a couple like you in
these groups, when things don't go their way they resort to insults,
then if others turn it right back at them they have issy fits and think
that others owe them respect! And by the way my name is John, that is
all that you need to know, I owe you nothing.

 

[Unknown]

Just remember PCB's are toxic (a little humor)

However, the website at mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
only provides details of those MVPs that want to share their
information publicly.

Yes, that's right.

The MVP programme is far from perfect. But in my experience, most
genuine MVPs are willing - and indeed, greatly desire - to have their
details openly published.
[snipped]

I wish that were so. However, when I scanned through recent
contributions to this newsgroup, I quickly found one from a regular
contributor who describes himself as "MS-MVP [Mail]".

Based upon the quality of his contributions, I have little doubt that
the gentleman is an MVP. However, a search against his name at
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx reports "No
results were found for your search criteria".

Surely, it should be possible to check a name against the definitive
list of MVPs (even if an individual MVP does not want to disclose his
biographical or other details). Furthermore, I would have no objection
to the use of a pseudonym, if an MVP has a genuine reason for anonymity.

Incidentally, I use Windows Live Mail as my Newsreader client program.
WLMail includes some Community Features, which allow for a special icon
to appear against contributions by MVPs. However, very few postings bear
the icon.

Would that be me, Bob? MS gives us only two choices. Remain anonymous, or
have all your personal info made public. I have expressed my opinion in
the past to MS that, IMO there should be an MS certified list of MVPs
that the public can see. IOW, a list of names of all MVPs without
revealing personal info if they do not want it published. Right now, it's
all or nothing.

I don't want to sound offensive, but I don't really want to share all the
information in my personal profile with the rest of the world. It is
really no ones business. But I /do/ want the public to be assured that I
am not an impostor.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA

Bruce

I hope you will accept my assurance that I was not suggesting you might be
an imposter. On the contrary, I have never doubted your right to use the
MVP designation. Perhaps I could also add that I respect your absolute
right to privacy.

However, I do have a problem with the MS attitude, which is less than
helpful. That is the real issue, because newsgroup users really should
have access to a definitive list of all MVPs. That would go a long way to
discouraging spurious claims from the likes of PCB.