You are correct in that the NDA prohibits discussing things that happen in the private newsgroups and other forums. However,
it does not prohibit an MVP from speaking his opinion . I will agree, some MVPs use the "sorry...NDA ya know..." far too often. I've used it, but tried to avoid getting into conversations where I would have to say it. IMO, it's better to not say anything at all rather than say "I know something about that, but I can't tell you".
>No I haven't, and never expect to have a need to.
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>BUT... I have seen several MVPs cite NDA as a reason that they can say nothing on an issue. And I have heard several MVPs cite that stuff discussed in the private back-channels in under NDA. And I did see, just recently, a suggestion that even discussing the general workings of the MS group responsible for KB Articles is covered by NDA. Man, if one feels (or worse, knows) that discussing in general terms a MS departmental process is NDA-covered then I can't imagine what a NDA doesn't cover!
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>It's not me, Craig, who uses "sorry...NDA ya know..." as a reason for staying mum, it's MVPs. And it is their promiscuous usage of it that leads to the comments I wrote.
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>So it comes down to... regardless of what a MVP NDA might actually say, it's interpretation is deep and wide by its signers and leads to (self-imposed or otherwise) muzzling which means that the "community" loses in the end.
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>Jim
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Craig Berntson
MCSD, Microsoft .Net MVP, Grape City Community Influencer