You ask if I'm bothered by the overwhelmingly negative comments on the forum: No. We knew that OS/2 users and developers would take issue with the Readers' Choice process and conclusions. WE didn't set out to irritate the OS/2 community, but we knew that after the March response that OS/2 users and developers and Electric-only readers would be frustrated with InfoWorld. We decided to have this forum (and I offered to host it) because we figured that if we didn't, people would trash InfoWorld behind our backs. At least this way we are getting a little better picture of who reads InfoWorld Electric and why. And although the personality profile right now is a tad on the grumpy side, that is worthwhile.
By falling on my sword, I've apologized for the feeling many in this forum have of being excluded from the polling, for the poor image we are living with, and most of all for our lack of foresight in how we handled the Readers Choice balloting in February and March. I take this all very seriously -- Product of the Year was once my pet project. I take it seriously enough to spend many hours reading and responding to these posts.
The problem with a Forum is that as often as I type I'm sorry, you all don't get it either. No one feels personally apologized to. Maybe there is a product out there that will address that.
I've tried, as I think Sean and other InfoWorld editorial folks have, to explain -- not justify -- our rationale. You don't have to like or agree with our decisions. (You don't work for InfoWorld so you didn't have a chance to attend our meetings on this subject.) Consenting adults are allowed to disagree with one another. Disagreement can yield more information -- something that can help us all.
Rachel Parker
Guest Host
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