Source: Microsoft internal memo [PDF]
, labeled "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL"
The author of the email, posted on ZDNet in a Talkback forum on the Microsoft antitrust trial, claimed her name was Michelle Bradley and that she had "retired" from Microsoft last week.
"A verbal memo [no email allowed] was passed around the MS campus encouraging MS employee's to post to ZDNet articles like this one," the email said.
"The theme is 'Microsoft is responsible for all good things in computerdom.' The government has no right to prevent MS from doing anything. Period. The 'memo' suggests we use fictional names and state and to identify ourselves as students," the author claimed.
Two notorious Microsoft shills, Dan Lyons and Paul Thurrott, have sunk to new lows of historical revisionism order to decry that “the media” is conspiring to uncritically fawn over a company other than the one they have uncritically fawned over as paid flacks over the last decade. They’re wrong, here’s why.
“Note that "not aware" is not synonymous with "does not exist".”Well naturally, after all, Microsoft's shills have been instructed to "use fictional names".
"We are not aware of any memos or verbal directives of this nature."
Note that "not aware" is not synonymous with "does not exist".
"It is against Microsoft policy for any employee to misrepresent him or herself by email or any other means."
Again, this carefully evades the truth. I'm quite prepared to believe that such a policy really does exist (after all Sweaty needs something to show the auditors), but it's likely this policy document is currently being used as an "Out of Order" notice in a disused toilet somewhere at Redmond HQ. The "official line" and "working practises" are not necessarily the same, and given 's documented history of hired shills (i.e. "Technology Evangelists"), it's pretty obvious this "policy" is just a sham.
Here's the truth that Waggner Edstrom won't tell you:
Here's what happened. In January of this year, a newcomer popped up in the Canopus forum named Steve Barkto. He said he was from Oklahoma City and had been an IBM customer for seven years. He wasted little time before attacking IBM, Dave Whittle, and your fearless reporter over issues we had previously discussed with Rick Segal.
This Bartko character had a writing style which was so similar to that of Rick Segal's that it immediately caught my eye. In fact, I responded to his first message to me by asking if he were Segal in drag. Nobody (including myself) took my question seriously. At least not at first.
Then one of the forum Sysop's noted that instead of calling from Oklahoma City, where he claimed to be from, Bartko's calls were originating from the node closest to Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington. This led Will Zachmann, who 'owns' the forum and is Wizop there, to look more closely.
What he found was incredible: Barkto's account was in fact owned by Microsoft. It had been opened with a corporate credit card belonging to Rick Segal. Will sent a letter to the Microsoft Board of Directors demanding an investigation and explanation, but no explanation has ever been forthcoming.
Effective Evangelism James Plamondon, Technical Evangelist
[...]
Our mission is to establish Microsoft's platforms as the de facto standards throughout the computer industry.... Working behind the scenes to orchestrate "independent" praise of our technology, and damnation of the enemy's, is a key evangelism function during the Slog. "Independent" analyst's report should be issued, praising your technology and damning the competitors (or ignoring them). "Independent" consultants should write columns and articles, give conference presentations and moderate stacked panels, all on our behalf (and setting them up as experts in the new technology, available for just $200/hour).
"Between 1992 and 2000, I was a Technology Evangelist (TE) with Microsoft, where I was widely considered to be its leading TE theorist and practitioner. For example, in the late 1990's, I was the only Microsoft employee to design and lead TE training seminars that all of Microsoft's newly-hired TE's were required to attend." ~ James Plamondon
The European Union’s Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (PDF), enacted in May, 2005, already bars companies from "falsely claiming or creating the impression that the trader is not acting for purposes relating to his trade, business, craft or profession, or falsely representing oneself as a consumer"
"Kentucky Representative Tim Couch filed a bill this week to make anonymous posting online illegal. The bill would require anyone who contributes to a website to register their real name, address and e-mail address with that site. Their full name would be used anytime a comment is posted.
If the bill becomes law, the website operator would have to pay if someone was allowed to post anonymously on their site. The fine would be five-hundred dollars for a first offense and one-thousand dollars for each offense after that."
So I guess, you know, one of the things that I find interesting is, is, you know, what is it about Microsoft, I mean you mentioned, Miguel, that your friends called you, like they said "gee, you can't do that, it's Microsoft, man"? I get the same sort of vibe from people, you know, when I say that I work for Microsoft, that they're immediately like "oh man!", you know, and these are, again these are developer friends of mine that don't work on our stack, which, and they're good friends of mine. So what is it about the community out there, that you're definitely, you /know/ these people, I mean why are we so evil? That's my question, why are we so evil?
C9 started as a grass roots effort on a team of evangelists. It got going with some help of a lot of people. Now that it is up and moving, some people move on to new jobs and others come in and join us.
Charles and Scoble are the driving forces behind the day to day. You have to love their dedication to this site. We love to hear what we can do better, so keep the feedback coming.
As for me being a "kingpin" ?
Carmine ... I prefer "spiritual advisor to Channel 9"
Comments
amd-linux
2009-01-19 19:26:40
I mean, please, this worse than a conspiracy novel from Tom Clancy. Unfortunately, the results are real.....
I wonder why there are no law enforcment agencies in the US which step up and on the toes of Ballmer and Gates?
Since the US authorities even feel responsible to tell us how we do business here in Europe, fining companies like Siemens for alleged bribery, I wonder why they are so blind with Microsoft?
I hope the new government will have the balls to finally stop this ridiculous mafiaesque MS game - but from what I heard, they are already on the payroll of MS (Silverlight, donations for the inauguration).
Roy Schestowitz
2009-01-19 19:34:12
"Some"?
Roy Schestowitz
2009-01-20 18:03:53
Belkin boss 'extremely sorry' for cash-for-good-reviews plan
"According to an open letter from Belkin big cheese Mark Reynoso, the "unethical practice" was conducted by "one of our employees", who offered cash in exchange for good reviews."
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/01/20/belkin_prez_apologises/
The CEO tried to deny it earlier. IOW, he lied to the public!