Re: Implementation of Online Update feature

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As I stated, I blocked "Jeff", so I couldn't read his reply (or replies) directly. Blocking Jeff, however, does not block replies from others, so I caught these (I copied and pasted Jim Mack's reply)

Jeff, you seem to be quite open to any "critique". I'm glad to see that. It'd still take an awful lot from you and quite some time before I'd personally ever consider buying your products, but I'm glad that you're willing to listen to opinions (and so I've unblocked you for the time-being, mainly to follow this thread should you further reply to it).

My "complaint" is that these newsgroups are intended for peer to peer support and you're using them soley as a means to "advertise" your products. If, as Jim stated, you became part of the community and offered "free" assistance, I (and I can only speak personally) wouldn't care if you plugged your products (even if you did it in every reply). However, IMO, you're using these newsgroups soley as a means of solicitation....and that is against MS's Rules of Conduct (although they don't explictly ban advertising/solicitation; they just ask you refrain from it). But, advertising/solicitation are not what the newsgroups are intended for. Not to single any one person out, but look at the thousands of replies by Ken Halter. He HELPS people, but he also has products targeted to VB programmers. When appropriate, he mentions his products as a solution and in his tagline he plugs his program named ComGuard. The difference is that he helps with sample code, suggestions, etc. that have NOTHING to do with any product he sells. Sure, when his products could help, he explictly mentions them. But he doesn't limit his "help" soley to what his products can do (so he doesn't come across, usually, as soliciting his products).


--
Mike
Microsoft MVP Visual Basic


"Thorsten Albers" <albersRE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:01c65c9c$aaeab580$ac53f8d9@xxxxxxxxxxx
Jeff <jeff.bennett.1@xxxxxxxxx> schrieb im Beitrag
<1144640838.811231.60990@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>...
I'm open to hearing other opinions on this - either from people who
write to me directly, or through newsgroup ( not sure where it would
be best to start such a discussion ). If general opinion is that
my suggestions are unwelcome I'll quickly stop posting answers
In that case - I hope others familiar with commercial components
will take up the slack and point out tools that help -
Sure "do it yourself" solutions are fine as well - for those with days
of time on their hands to experiment, and later worry about maintaining

I agree to Mike. If the answer to a question in this newsgroup is "Buy my
product", then it should be taken from this newsgroup to some other kind of
advertising platform. Someone asking questions in this newsgroup usually
doesn't search for commercial solutions but want to do the coding himself.

"Jim Mack" <jmack@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:uezKPSJXGHA.1204@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jeff wrote:
Yes, I admit that I do post replies where I think our products
are a direct fit with what the individual posting a question is
looking
to do. Actually I am proud of it and like to think that I am
performing
a service and really offering useful help. I believe it is exactly
what
the newsgroups are about. Yes it's true that I don't have time to
answer questions not related to what I offer - and in most such cases
there are others far better equipped to answer the questions than I
( and usually they are answered well before I get there )

Actually I think it's quite sad that it is so rare for questions to be
answered by developers who have an immediate solution that
would save the original poster time and effort reinventing the wheel.

As a commercial developer I understand what you mean, and on occasion I do mention a commercial solution. But I probably post 50 messages that don't for every one that does. And I never post a solution involving our product that doesn't also show an alternative solution not using it.

I think that's what Mike is objecting to. It's part of belonging to a community. Be a real community player and no one will object to an occasional reference. In fact, you might find others recommending your stuff as well, since you're 'family'. But trawling for messages just so you can get a mention in? That's seen as predatory.

So my vote is, join in and take the time to build a rapport with your potential customers. Or stay out and pay for advertising.


.

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