How Twisted Can A Blogger’s Opinion Be?
It is surprising to see how much todays blogging culture has changed the way people analyze things. Maybe I immediately have to include the mention that I am 100% pro disclosure and pro critical minds.
But sometimes people’s opinions just hit me. Hit me too hard. We judge differently. We get judged differently.
Because bloggers (try to) preach disclosure, they get judged differently. No matter if they disclose or not.
Companies get judged differently.
Lets take a look at this weeks Microsoft scandal . It has been all over the place already. A typical blogosphere scandal.
Michael Arrington’s reaction was an honest and very realistic one.
I don’t think this is much of a scandal, because Microsoft is being pretty open about exactly what they are doing – giving away computers loaded with Vista to bloggers in the hope that they are more likely to write about it.
I couldn’t agree more. I have been for years a hardcore MS user. I have been a hardcore MS tester. I have been alpha tester for Windows XP. I have been alpha tester for Windows Vista. The company I work for has been involved in early IE7 security tests.
Years long I have had access to new products and I have received many free programs from Microsoft. I have invested hours of my time in a (now sadly offline) German Windows Community. The community has been a Microsoft Community Leader/Influencer Program (CLIP) (German site) member.
We received gifts. Software to test.
Our community members were proud to be part of an influencing online portal and used to congratulate us when we joined. No one had any problems when we received a free portable radio for testing Microsoft Office 2003. Actually many wanted one of those.
Our members were happy for us when we got something. What’s the big deal?
We invested many, many hours in testing and writing. In supporting our members with their Windows problems. Microsoft rewarded us.
Microsoft has been running the Microsoft MVP program for years now. A reward for independent experts. I can’t remember anyone having refused the honor to become a Microsoft MVP.
Microsoft MVPs have received gifts. And free software.
And now Microsoft, in partnership with AMD and Acer, gives some notebooks to influential bloggers. So?
Where’s the problem? Those people have been influential and MS knows that they will publish their critical and independent review. And probably most bloggers won’t keep the notebook for themselves anyway.
Would the blogosphere be as critical if tomorrow we read that 10 designers have gotten a quad core MacBookPro to test? Preferably even with free Adobe Creative Suite 3 package.
Do we show the same criticism towards our doctor? I wished my GP would disclose what companies offer him gifts.
And what did actually happen to the Intel Centrino Duo Blogger Challenge notebooks?
Intel provided laptop machines with either the Core™ Duo or Core™ 2 Duo processor and built in Centrino wireless technology to 6 rising stars in the blogosphere. In return for these machines, our participating bloggers agreed to contribute to this group blog over the course of 5 weeks sharing their honest opinions and responses to a series of questions about blogging, the blogosphere and technology. Apart from recieving a laptop computer, none of these bloggers have been compensated in any way or asked to write anything specific about Intel.
About The Intel Centrino Challenge
Did I miss the scandal? Did Intel just like Microsoft decide to ask their laptops back as Marshall Kirkpatrick reports?
Give me a free Apple Quad Core MacBookPro to launch the newest scandal please. I will disclose who send me the notebook and wait eagerly to see what reactions I get. But it won’t be a case of Microsoft bashing.
Update : Amit posts a list of the bloggers who have received a Ferrari. And shares his own honest and realistic opinion… as a freshly awarded MVP and DHL victim AMD MS Acer Ferrari blogger.
Thanks for this site!
hifue.info
nppxkrgqes said this on June 28, 2007 3:49 am