CompuServe Thread

John, old friend, You recently offered the following gems: <<< If I were running a large company like Autodesk, >>> Don't look now but… you're not. <<< I'm not sure I'd want to let my marketing and PR departments >>> <<< mingle with the customers in such a forum. >>> Your marketing and PR people might not consider this a vote of confidence. When you are *sure*, call back. <<< Info-super-hype-way aside, online conversation is not a substitute for >>> <<< a reasoned, well-written press release or marketing plan. >>> With regards to well-written press releases, my letter to Autodesk asks why those press releases aren't being posted here in the forum by Autodesk personnel rather than outsiders. I am merely proffering the idea that it is better to get the "word" straight from the "source" rather than be subjected to possible misinformation. Ever been part of that old party gag where one person whispers something into another person's ear and they repeat the act until it goes all the way around the room? It happens in real life, John. As for online conversation, there have been a lot of people, including you and I (reluctantly), who have participated in a thread called "Why I won't upgrade." In my view, this is something that should be of concern to the public relations, marketing and sales departments. I think they should be online reading this stuff first hand rather than receiving an occasional printout delivered to them via in-house E-mail. <<< Too much contact with online denizens leads to >>> <<< "we've gotta have X" myopia. >>> John, has this malady afflicted *you* and Syndesis? BTW You sure like that word "denizen." <<< You must realize that people who… spend hundreds of dollars a month >>> <<< on CompuServe are probably not a typical customer. >>> OUCH!! Glad I'm not paying your bills. I don't know anybody paying hundreds of dollars a month on CServe. But I'm sure they, as well as you or I, would do so more willingly if the material represented was direct from the source rather than rumor or third hand news. <<< I don't think the people online are a representative sample of all >>> <<< customers or all potential customers. >>> You're right, John. The people online include professionals, dealers, publishers, leaders of user groups, and otherwise influential types who, during the normal course of their day-to-day activities, reach a lot of people who don't use CompuServe. Many of these influential types also participate in FIDONET, PCGnet, Internet, and other online news services. They post as well as read. They put on seminars, publish newsletters, and hold group meetings. My letter to Autodesk is with regard to the "quality of information" presented in the forum. Overall, I am highly pleased with the content. I am merely suggesting that the ASOFT forum is being underutilized by Autodesk and, in my belief, it should be re-evaluated as an asset and resource. I'm sorry if you find fault with my proposition. But it was not addressed to you anyway. But you're certainly entitled to express your point of view however myopic it might be. In addition, my letter asks whether or not it is fair to task someone with a responsibility that really shouldn't fall under their purview. The SysOps are technical support. Many of the issues raised in the forum are not of a technical matter. Should Autodesk ignore these issues entirely or ask tech support people to field these questions? I think not. It is my belief there are better ways of responding. <<< If someone starts wasting an hour a day talking with the easily >>> <<< accessible users here, it means an hour away from the users that >>> <<< are much harder to find. >>> This hasn't deterred you. And you're a much smaller company. It would seem that you have even less of a reason to hang out here "wasting an hour a day." I'm certain that the people who spend their money to visit ASOFT would prefer that "interacting with them" not be considered a waste of time. If this is how you feel, perhaps you'd be better off spending your time elsewhere. <<< Because any truly official company representative might be drawn into >>> <<< non-productive, public flame wars with any yahoo with a modem. >>> Oh. I see. The people online, "the transient denizens," who might spend "hundreds of dollars a month on CompuServe," who aren't in your opinion, "a representative sample of all customers or potential customers" are just "yahoos with modems" interested in "non-productive, public flame wars." <<It's not as if there's an intelligence test required when you buy a modem.>> You're just setting me up here, John. <G> If I wanted to start a flame, this would be the perfect opener. 😉 ( Mr. Lurker, Credibility and trustworthiness aren't criteria either. ) <<< Most corporate events and communiques are very tightly controlled. >>> This is the information age, John. The age of 800 numbers, mass communications, GATT, the new world order, and so-forth… An "event" that takes place in Cuba, Bosnia, Canada or elsewhere doesn't remain private or "tightly controlled," even under the harshest of communist regimes. The "denizens" have fax machines and modems. <<< I wouldn't want to subject my employees to that… perhaps only a few >>> <<< well-chosen volunteers 🙂 who have proven their ability to deal with >>> <<< the public with diplomacy. >>> I would hope that a company the size of Autodesk has a few employees who are well qualified to deal with the public diplomatically. Autodesk doesn't need volunteers, they pay people to do the job. PR means Public Relations. Marketing and sales people deal with the public-at-large at trade shows and other small and large events on almost a daily basis. <<< And I didn't make ten calls to Autodesk >>> You assume… But you are correct. <<< I made one call, and was bounced between eight-ten people … >>> <<< Very different beast. >>> Beast indeed. Expensive too. In terms of time and money. No matter who's paying for the call. <<< Why not use it to its fullest? >>> Yes. That is the question. And it's being posed by one of the biggest fans and cheerleaders Autodesk has had in the past four years. And it's offered as a solution. I think Autodesk is doing lots of things right. Maybe it doesn't matter whether they have my vote of confidence or not. Again, I'm just a small fish. But fish swim in schools, John. And the pond…. Hey, John, are we still friends? I sure hope so. I'll buy lunch. From Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary animate 1: to give spirit and support to: ENCOURAGE 2a: to give life to 2b: to give vigor and zest to 3: to move to action Kevin Gibson Animation Nation <tm> -= 2b or not 2b? That's another question. =-