OT: surely I'm missing something

[Rich Milburn [MVP]]

The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public windows.x.general newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised by the posts in here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few years, I've gotten a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in a hotel room. Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as Google so aptly asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose I do) who is led around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag. Which, I might add, I surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was with at the time. I recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows Shared Computer Toolkit on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple of catered meals. I'm not really sure how that translates into some kind of bribe? It's a pretty poor one. I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums (this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do. What I really don't appreciate, though, are the rantings and off-topic bashing on here. This is not windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot or any one of numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor misled people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are running Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is just plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The MVPs in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these [non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[Robert Firth]

Very well said. I've made several attempts in the past to convey the same idea. I hope your message is more effective.

Remember, it's about the 'help and support'.

--
/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Robert Firth *
* Windows Vista x86 RTM *
* http://www.WinVistaInfo.org *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */

The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public windows.x.general newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised by the posts in here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few years, I've gotten a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in a hotel room. Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as Google so aptly asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose I do) who is led around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag. Which, I might add, I surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was with at the time. I recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows Shared Computer Toolkit on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple of catered meals. I'm not really sure how that translates into some kind of bribe? It's a pretty poor one. I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums (this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do. What I really don't appreciate, though, are the rantings and off-topic bashing on here. This is not windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot or any one of numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor misled people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are running Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is just plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The MVPs in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these [non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

While I agree, maybe its best to ignore them. Discussing just keeps it going and focuses attention on them, which is what they want.
The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public windows.x.general newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised by the posts in here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few years, I've gotten a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in a hotel room. Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as Google so aptly asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose I do) who is led around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag. Which, I might add, I surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was with at the time. I recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows Shared Computer Toolkit on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple of catered meals. I'm not really sure how that translates into some kind of bribe? It's a pretty poor one. I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums (this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do. What I really don't appreciate, though, are the rantings and off-topic bashing on here. This is not windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot or any one of numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor misled people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are running Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is just plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The MVPs in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these [non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[xfile]

Hi,

And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The MVPs in Shell and other
areas who earn that by helping out in these [non-professional] forums put
up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they deserve some >respect, rather
than the blatant envy and jealousy which is more apparent.

All people providing help are deserved to be respected regardless they have
a title or not, and the same standard applies to those who can't be
objective or natural, again, with or without a title.

So having a title or not (at least to me) is irrelevant, and it'd be a
generalization for putting all MVP's into the same category (as they are all
good or bad) because all MVP's are simply not the same.

It's a free country and people can choose what they want, but once they've
determined to be associated with a company (with or without incentives are
also irrelevant), they have to face the consequence of "reasonable doubts"
from the general public.

You gain some and you loss some - that's how life goes. You choose to wear
the hat, you have to face the reasonable doubts. One can't get it all.

So my advise for those who've got the title, you should be even more careful
for expressing your thoughts because you chose to have the title.

No offense to all.


While I agree, maybe its best to ignore them. Discussing just keeps it
going and focuses attention on them, which is what they want.
The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more
off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since
Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public windows.x.general
newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised by the posts in
here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few years, I've gotten
a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in a hotel room.
Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as Google so aptly
asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose I do) who is led
around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag. Which, I might add, I
surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was with at the time. I
recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows Shared Computer Toolkit
on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple of catered meals. I'm not
really sure how that translates into some kind of bribe? It's a pretty poor
one. I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become
efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums
(this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find
questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do. What I
really don't appreciate, though, are the rantings and off-topic bashing on
here. This is not windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot
or any one of numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor
misled people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are
running Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is
just plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The
MVPs in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these
[non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they
deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is
more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced
through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[xfile]

Sorry, replied to wrong person.

While I agree, maybe its best to ignore them. Discussing just keeps it
going and focuses attention on them, which is what they want.
The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more
off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since
Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public windows.x.general
newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised by the posts in
here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few years, I've gotten
a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in a hotel room.
Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as Google so aptly
asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose I do) who is led
around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag. Which, I might add, I
surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was with at the time. I
recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows Shared Computer Toolkit
on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple of catered meals. I'm not
really sure how that translates into some kind of bribe? It's a pretty poor
one. I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become
efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums
(this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find
questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do. What I
really don't appreciate, though, are the rantings and off-topic bashing on
here. This is not windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot
or any one of numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor
misled people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are
running Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is
just plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The
MVPs in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these
[non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they
deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is
more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced
through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[xfile]

And I remember some people (including a few MVP's) using the word -
entitlement, for trashing those CPP members made contributions but were
disappointed by not getting a free copy.

The same standard goes for MVP's - if simply having the tile means to have
all respects without other qualifications - it's an entitlement.

Respect has always been "earned" is not something free of charge.

Again, no offense to MVP's but just to express an individual's perspective.

The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more
off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since
Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public windows.x.general
newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised by the posts in
here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few years, I've gotten
a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in a hotel room.
Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as Google so aptly
asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose I do) who is led
around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag. Which, I might add, I
surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was with at the time. I
recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows Shared Computer Toolkit
on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple of catered meals. I'm not
really sure how that translates into some kind of bribe? It's a pretty poor
one. I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become
efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums
(this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find
questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do. What I
really don't appreciate, though, are the rantings and off-topic bashing on
here. This is not windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot
or any one of numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor
misled people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are
running Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is
just plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The
MVPs in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these
[non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they
deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is
more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced
through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[Chad Harris]

Rich--

This side of Mother Theresa you are the man. I am in awe of your penchant
for public service and your self-described inquisitive mind.

"I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become
efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums
(this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find
questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do."

No one else has thought of doing this. You certainly have my nomination for
the Newsgroup Nobel next time Stockholm takes a look. Your skills in
hammering that word sycophant are awesome. Did it hit a nerve? I'm not the
only one to mention it to you?

It never occured did it to any of us besides you and Mr. Firth and Mr.
Frissbee that this is about help and support. Part of help and support is
constructive criticism and if this is heat in the kitchen then head
somewhere else.

Many have pointed out that constructive criticism is neither trolling nor
ranting off topic.

I've yet to see anyone address the eggretious situation of MSFT professing
help and support when there OEM VP Scott Di Valerio visibly threatens OEMs
not to ship the OS on CD so that people can do an effective repair install
in XP or utilize Win RE in Vista and I've addressed this in well documented
detail.

That fact is the antithesis of providing help and support. That fact is
about pure greed on the part of MSFT and for the first time Dell has said
enough and refused to capitulate with Vista I might add.

Refs:

Win RE:

http://blogs.msdn.com/winre/default.aspx


http://blogs.msdn.com/winre/archive/2006/09/20/763901.aspx


Chapter 28 Mechanisms of Recovery in Win XP which also can be applied to
Vista via F8 Win Advanced Options

Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308041

A Stop error occurs, or the computer stops responding when you try to start
Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us


Dell Promises Against Scott Di Valerio OEM VP Of MSFT's Bullying to Ship OS
DVDs of Vista with OEM Preinstalls Just Saying No to a Bully and his
CompanytMSFT
http://www.direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2006/10/17/3132.aspx


As to your Cafe group comment, in fact on the TBT groups there were
ectopic, metastatic posts that all belonged in Cafe that showed up anywhere
but in there. Likewise posts that could have but weren't seen by the on
point teams that could have helped the individual with a particularly topic
were often posted in Cafe. If you overlooked that fact, take another look
at the TBT groups where it's comspicuously evident that a high percent of
the small percent of people on the TBT who actually posted in those groups
couldn't post within confines of the specified topics.

Your use of the imperative sentence "Go" suggests you have some kind of
command power that is delusional. If I want Linux resourcs, I can find them
on my own. Your assumption that people who constructively criticize MSFT,
its policies or Vista features are Linux enthusiasts that find it
fullfilling to bash MSFT is a generalization that like most is defective.

I have provided substantially more help for people here in this group and on
scores of other MSFT groupsa than you have for years. I have to hand it to
you though, Rich, you're pushing the envelop for self-aggrandizing grandiose
behavior in the face of mediocrity. You are quintissentially disingenous in
your cloak as the defender of "poor misled people" and the record shows
that. You also are in the epicenter of the posture mindless sycophant right
now Rich. We are all in awe of your scholarship with Google and searching
spellings of it. I hope you checked out the urban dictionary. It's meaning
applies well to you.

I've done as much work in these groups as any MVP whose heart that beats
has, and I and everyone else doesn't need work defined by your pious Church
ladyesque self-righteous tone. Why don't you focus on answering the
questions you can. Right now I see next to no evidence of that.

If you want a cafe, instead of complaining to me, write the appropriate
people.

CH


The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more
off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since
Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public windows.x.general
newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised by the posts in
here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few years, I've gotten
a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in a hotel room.
Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as Google so aptly
asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose I do) who is led
around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag. Which, I might add, I
surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was with at the time. I
recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows Shared Computer Toolkit
on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple of catered meals. I'm not
really sure how that translates into some kind of bribe? It's a pretty poor
one. I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become
efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums
(this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find
questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do. What I
really don't appreciate, though, are the rantings and off-topic bashing on
here. This is not windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot
or any one of numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor
misled people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are
running Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is
just plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The
MVPs in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these
[non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they
deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is
more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced
through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[Chad Harris]

Very well said Xfile. You don't have to be steeped in psychoanalyis to
glean that so much of this outrage over who had what Beta build, torrents
for Betas, etc. was based on a sense of the most superficial entitlement and
elitist attitude possible and as I've said very uncharacteristic of the MVPs
I've know or corresponded with in an enjoyable way over the years.

These people, Frisbee, Firth, Milburn act as if none of the rest of us have
provided extensive knowledgable hard working help for years. The facts
belie them and make them look foolish.

It is really impressive as well that Millburn has that typo in sycophant
covered to the max. It butresses his superiority and extensive software
prowess.

If only the rest of us could have been as articulate and well educated and
noble.

CH

And I remember some people (including a few MVP's) using the word -
entitlement, for trashing those CPP members made contributions but were
disappointed by not getting a free copy.

The same standard goes for MVP's - if simply having the tile means to have
all respects without other qualifications - it's an entitlement.

Respect has always been "earned" is not something free of charge.

Again, no offense to MVP's but just to express an individual's
perspective.

The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more
off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since
Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public
windows.x.general newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised
by the posts in here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few
years, I've gotten a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in
a hotel room. Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as
Google so aptly asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose
I do) who is led around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag.
Which, I might add, I surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was
with at the time. I recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows
Shared Computer Toolkit on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple
of catered meals. I'm not really sure how that translates into some kind
of bribe? It's a pretty poor one. I dig into the software I use for
work, learn about it, and become efficient with it. I sometimes find
helpful suggestions in public forums (this particular one has been an
exception to that), and I often find questions I can answer. If I can
help someone out, then I do. What I really don't appreciate, though, are
the rantings and off-topic bashing on here. This is not
windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot or any one of
numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor misled
people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are running
Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is just
plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The MVPs
in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these
[non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they
deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is
more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced
through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[Chad Harris]

Before you orgasm over the typo in eggegious as "egretious" let's correct it. But you can go ahead and google it. It applies to all of your recent posts. I thought I tried to help you with drivers but maybe it was someone else in another forum. Frisbee has one "s."

CH
The OT is gratuitous, as it seems that anything related to Vista is more off-topic than rants on here...

I just waded through about half of the 1045 new messages in here since Friday or so, and since I'm sorta new around these [public windows.x.general newsgroups] parts, maybe that's the reason I'm surprised by the posts in here. After spending hundreds of hours over the past few years, I've gotten a free backpack, laptop case, and a couple of nights in a hotel room. Apparently that translates into being a "synchophant" (or as Google so aptly asks, "Do you mean sycophant?" Why yes, Google, I suppose I do) who is led around to do Microsoft's bidding for tons of swag. Which, I might add, I surely missed out on, as did every other MVP I was with at the time. I recall a t-shirt, a 64 MB flash drive with Windows Shared Computer Toolkit on it, and a button-down shirt. Oh, and a couple of catered meals. I'm not really sure how that translates into some kind of bribe? It's a pretty poor one. I dig into the software I use for work, learn about it, and become efficient with it. I sometimes find helpful suggestions in public forums (this particular one has been an exception to that), and I often find questions I can answer. If I can help someone out, then I do. What I really don't appreciate, though, are the rantings and off-topic bashing on here. This is not windows.vista.bashing.general. Go hang out at slashdot or any one of numerous Suse or Ubuntu forums. You are not helping the poor misled people, you are hindering people who for one reason or another are running Windows Vista and who come here for help. Calling them stupid is just plain ignorant. And bashing the MVPs here is just as ignorant. The MVPs in Shell and other areas who earn that by helping out in these [non-professional] forums put up with a lot. It's a lot of work, and they deserve some respect, rather than the blatant envy and jealousy which is more apparent.

Too bad there's not a vista.cafe here, about 1/2 the 1000 posts I glanced through today belong there.

Rich Milburn
MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services