I’ve interviewed pretty much most of the top dogs of our industry and without exception they always said the same thing – something like: “Tough, but fair.” It’s about getting on with the issue in hand – and if that means sticking a few f**ks into someone – so what?

And a good player gives as good as – Hasso Plattner comes readily to mind, Larry O also. Greg Brady used to be pretty good until he turned (allegedly) crooked. Jim Goodnight remains excellent sparring value as does Chuck Philips. Dave Duffield is/was always a lovely exception but Aneel Bushri? Nah. OK – enough of the name dropping. The point is this is a dirty business at times. Emotions can run extremely high. There’s a lot at stake – isn’t there Jeff?

Of course civility has its place but the real irony of that for me was and remains the Ben and Mena show at Les Blogs 2.0 last December. You had to be there – it’s on the web. For us cynical pillocks this side of the pond, that above everything confirms what ‘we’ believe we know about US hi-tech – full of BS supplemented by a liberal dose of hyperbole and topped off with a heavy dose of hypocrisy. Deal with that and civility returns in an instant.

There are some interesting cultural dynamics to consider about confidentiality and reputation. Kids, the “millenia generation”, are far more open online than I am, which begs the question of whether or not confidentiality is something you gain as you have more to be confidential about, or if it’s merely a generational thing. I suspect the former.

There are many instances today where kids are learning that what they put on their facebook profile or in their myspace is being read by a wide audience than their friends. For example, there are an increasing number of examples where employers are looking at applicants facebook profiles as part of their recruitment practices… I can only imagine the size of the negative that gets attached to you by the company you are interviewing with when they find your facebook profile where you included how much you like to party every night of the week.

And with regard to Miller, he ALSO said some very poignant things:

“Any athlete who isn’t doing well is left in the corner, nobody asks for their autograph and they’re left out in the cold. However, those who win things are regarded as symbols. This pressure is inhumane, born out of an athlete’s need to be No. 1.”

“Some athletes turn to drugs in their quest for fame because the pressure to succeed is so great.”

Troll spray painting “fuck fuck fuckity fuck fucker dumbass” in a comment makes everyone more stupid for having read it. If that’s the best someone can come up with in a protest, rebuttal or debate, I hate to see what what they are capable of without putting the effort into it.

Kirsten,
“Especially someone who has flopped so badly. Way to kick someone when they are down.” Miller is the one that came out and said that the press and the public are the reason why sports get corrupted, implying that he would do a lot better if there were fewer pressures on him. This is typcial for Miller, it’s never his responsibility… 60 Minutes took his comments out of context and the Bonds/Armstrong comments should have been edited out because he’s a high profile athlete. It never is Miller’s responsibility. If that is your definition of heroism to you I would suggest you read this:
http://tinyurl.com/bqghp

We are surrounded by heros, you just have to look for them in places other than professional sports and People magazine. I remember an interview with Dion Sanders a long time ago, he was asked about OJ Simpson and the impact his fall would have on those who considered him a role model. Sanders replied OJ Simpson wasn’t the one who was driving him to football and baseball practice and showing up to cheer him on, his mom did.

Look, I do not like foul language either (on my blog FUBAR is closest I have gotten) but I do not particularly care for people who want disguise who they are and then snipe. if they are in the FBI witness protection program fine, but jeez we are a free country – why hide?

Note to Vinnie – Are you gunning for a job with Jeff or SAP? Seems so. I liked you ever much more when you were brilliantly contentious.

Interestingly, if you look at blogs that follow Forrester, Gartner etc almost 90% of comments are face less. The excuse is the analysts would get mean if they knew who we are…I always enjoyed a vigorous debate when I was at Gartner – not sure things have changed that much.

Also enterprise buyers do not like to leave comments. They will email me and ask me to post on their behalf anon – 2 reasons – their PR policy precludes talking to press, and blogs are a form of press. secondly, as a couple of them have told me…they do not want to get on even more cold call lists around the globe..

so yes, civility, some form of privacy …all opportunities.