Jim,

>SNIP
>>
>>I think the thing that bothered me was folks placing more value is one person's name over another's. Afterall, this is an expression of opinion, and we're each entitled to our own. Simply basing an opinion based on the fact that this person or that says so, ultimately does a disservice to one's self.
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>While I agree with your general conclusion here, the real world works a little differently, don't you think!?
>For instance, while I like to think that I have specific opinions and that I am not hesitant to 'share' them, I *also* place different levels of credence on whatever I hear depending on the source/situation. And this definitely affects my opinions in general.

Certainly. As a general point, that's exactly right. I'll take it one step further. Many times, I've generally agreed or disagreed with an opinion as a whole. That does not mean, however, that I've found nothing of value within the opinion.

In this instance, however, it was a reaction to what might be termed "knee jerk reactionism". IOW, so-and-so says this and, I, without bothering to take the time to research his/her conclusion/statement agree/disagree.

>And the case regarding voting or not has other dimensions too. Correct or not, I contend that many (repeat: many) people might well withhold 'voting' because of the absence of specific names and more particularly VFP MVPs. Why? Well for one thing they are considered "leaders" whether they like it or not. People *do* follow leaders, by definition. As well, they might think that this group has a little more of the "inside track" and probably know some things that the general population is not privy to. So the absence of their 'vote' might translate into "there's no real need to vote here".

Maybe, it's difficult to say. No one springs from the womb full grown. Similarly, the role of a "leader" is one that has to be earned or grown into.

>Finally, and only marginally related...JohnK stated (now removed) that he didn't want to 'beat up on the VFP Team'. I found that to be a strange interpretation of the matter at hand because I never saw the issue as maligning the VFP Team IN ANY WAY. I interpreted it, in fact, as quite the opposite - to show support FOR the VFP Team. Wanting to have VFP more recognized throughout MS and promoted active by MS is not my idea of "beating up on the VFP Team". But it has got me to wondering if that is the way (JohnK's way) that the other VFP MVPs see it. I sure hope not.

It's hard for me to comment here, only because, while I remember the remark, I can't recall the entire context. Hey, I sometimes get my kids names mixed, so this shouldn't come as any surprise.:-) FWIW, however, I don't think that it was John's intent to imply that more trying to get VFP more actively promoted was in any way, "beating up on the VFP team".

>>I think the most serious question here isn't whether or not Microsoft will market VFP. Rather it's, "Will Microsoft market VFP within Microsoft and its representatives?" How many times have we heard about instances where, in a perfectly natural environment for it, VFP either hasn't been mentioned, mentioned just briefly, or put down at conferences and events by people representing Microsoft. Far too often.
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>AGREED!

>>Microsoft can't control what people like the Gartner Group say, but it can, or better should be able, to control what its representatives say.

>AGREED, and I think that MS should do things to counter statements like Gartner or others may make.

One of the things that I've pointed to several times in the past was the rumor that DoubleSpace (in DOS 6.0) was buggy. At the time (I think Win 3.0 was just out), DOS was Microsoft's "bread-and-butter". They never could kill that rumor (and it was, indeed, a rumor). What I'm saying is that once a rumor, or perhaps worse, a perception is born, it's very difficult to kill or change it. I often wonder (as Microsoft may) "How loud do I need to bang this drum so that everyone hears it?" Unfortunately, I think the answer is, "It can never be banged loudly enough, for some will never hear it."