The difference, Ken, is that I have never been paid by Microsoft. I use their tools because of my choice, and my choice only.
Recently I was approached by a .NET component vendor to join their speaker bureau. They would pay part of my T&E to various events if I put one slide promoting their products in my slide deck. I told them that I could not unless I was using their products, which at the time they asked me, I had been evaluating. I since I have decided to use their product. Now, their offer to pay my T&E may have persuaded me to use their product over a competitor, it may not have. But, I have not promoted them in anyway here on the UT and do not intend to do so unless someone asks about them specifically or needs a capability that their components have. And even then, I may include links to competitor products.
But, what I won't do is throw in "That's one of the reasons I like product X' into a thread that has nothing to do with what that product does.
>Do you consider yourself a moderator here on the UT commenting on what you want people to post and not post? I don't recall reading anyone here asking you to tone down the .NET ads in your posts. I like reading your posts here on the UT even when I disagree, and I respect your opinions. You don't have to read my posts.
Craig Berntson
MCSD, Microsoft .Net MVP, Grape City Community Influencer