~ryanlowe/blog: bloggers.NET

bloggers.NET

Here's a list of Microsoft bloggers compiled by a watchdog site. I thought Robert Scoble's comments were interesting:

Microsoft doesn't get Weblogs. Look at Weblogs. Microsoft doesn't get them. Oh, sure, there are now, what, 30 Weblogs kept by Microsoft folks? But, name one top executive who has a weblog. Name a Microsoft-product weblog where we get to see a real insight into a product. Not to mention there's 55,000 employees at Microsoft and so far only 30 people have gotten brave enough (stupid enough?) to do weblogs.

I don't see a problem with an employee having a blog, as long as they are smart about it. The fact people insist on describing the people who work at Microsoft as Microsoft itself is kinda spooky. There is sunlight outside people -- go play in the grass and mix with the locals.

Oh and the rest of that post is telling as well. It will be very interesting (and probably sadistically entertaining) to watch Microsoft try to adopt the community-oriented approach. Pass the popcorn.

Posted at February 08, 2003 at 01:28 AM EST
Last updated February 08, 2003 at 01:28 AM EST

Comments

son-lite?
out-sigh-de?
grr-ass?

Explain what these things mean. Are they something for my computer? I can't seem to see them from my hole. Uhh, I mean "office". (yes, office. That will do nicely.)

» Posted by: Jimbo Jones at February 8, 2003 03:18 PM

Actually, on something like this, I'd have to side with the employer. I don't think that there's a real reason for any employee to be keeping a blog about company-related work, or about posting work-related (possibly private) information in a blog.

I mean sure, anyone with two brain cells knows not to put critical information out in the public domain, but then how to do you define critical? What if for whatever reason, the employer decides to delay a project and an employee bitches about it in a blog. A competitor might see that and assume that there are problems with the product and then start a rumor about it not being delivered...

I'm sure that out of 55,000 tech employers, there are *MANY* more than 30 people running blogs. If it was me, I sure as hell wouldn't want my employer reading something like that. Blogs are largely made of up personal opinions, views, and interests. How would you react if you knew that an employee of yours had wildly different views?

I'm sure people might say that they'd be able to handle it, but come on. Just think of what's out there that could get you into trouble with an employer. How about views on the death penalty, class differences, abortion, the imminent martian invasion in 2039?... cell phones!! That's not exactly the kind of thing that I'd want the person signing my paychecks to know my thoughts on..

(anyway... just typing out my thoughts. ;) )

» Posted by: Peter at February 9, 2003 10:15 AM