All I can say is that people do wonder about whether the MVPs can be completely honest and objective and resist the obvious potential for conflict of interest. I am not the only one that has said that, however I haven't seen you lecturing anyone else, unless I just missed it. Basically, the potential for a conflict of interest does exist, though you seem to turn a blind eye to it. You say "the problem, however, occurs when the feeling/wonder/opinion, is given voice." You amaze me! We can have opinions, but not voice them? We can wonder, but not criticize because "it may give a bad impression about the program"? What's the goal here, George? Open and honest discussion or just to protect the MVP program? I was here to discuss, which means I have to voice my opinion. If you want to try to squelch my opinion in order not to "give a bad impression about the program", then too bad. My impression, overall, of the program is good, but I have some misgivings. If you can't handle that and you only want praise for the MVP program to be uttered here, then you had better wake up and smell the coffee - ain't nothing perfect and the MVP program is no exception. I didn't expect these types of comments from you!


>>Well, it seems you are getting insulted over nothing. What I said was that I "sometimes wonder", and it "seems", and I "feel". Then I asked for examples of MVPs who do say what they think, even when it's critical of MS, and I got some examples, which I am willing to take at face value. Basically, the discussion (to some extent) here has been about whether or not the MVPs are objective or are they just going with the MS flow. So, of course, that does relate to integrity. But it seems that you are saying that we can't discuss this issue or else we are insulting you and the other MVPs. Please tell me when the UT became communist controlled? <g> Read this thread and you will see people wondering if the program creates conflicts of interest. Is discussion of this possibility not allowed now? Can you see no possibility for a conflict of interest?
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>>Really, I'm not insulting you or any other specific MVP. I'm just joining in a discussion of an issue. I hope you will realize that I do not mean to call your personal integrity into question. I have no reason to believe that it is anything other than excellent.
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>Russell,
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>I'm sorry if you thought that I was directing my remarks at you personally. I wasn't.
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>The problem, however, occurs when the feeling/wonder/opinion, is given voice. It may not be the intent of the author to bring someone's integrity into question, but for someone else, lurking about, it may give a bad impression about the program.
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>Let me just sum up how I feel as someone who hasn't always been and MVP. I've always tried to respond to someone in the same manner in which I would like to be responded to or treated: With dignity and respect. Have I always accomplished this? No, there have been times when I feel that I've been provoked, and responded in kind. (Remember, I'm from the South Side of Chicago< s >.)
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>As a result, I tend to look at things this way: If I was the "other guy" would I bring into question their personal integrity (IOW, question whether or not they "owed" Microsoft something)? Nope, I wouldn't. That's just me. I trust that the other MVPs feeling the same way. Hope you understand.
>
>BTW, I do know of a particular MVP who, on this forum, referred to Microsoft as the "Borg". Not exactly flattering, but it was in fun. That person is still an MVP.