Re: Adoption of RPG OA

Kurt, there may be a few people (and I'm not saying there are, just that for the sake of argument there might be some) in our community who get some sort of compensation from the subject of their articles, but Jon ain't one of 'em. If you read his stuff, he's just as often critical of things he writes about as he is positive. Jon and I disagree on many things, but the idea of him taking what effectively amounts to payola is pretty silly.

Joe

There are plenty of blog-writers out there that get kickback for positive reviews on products. That isn't to say I don't believe you, swimming-in-the-article-writing-dough-Paris. I'm just saying that it's not like Raul's statement is out in left field. It's a legitimate concern (although hopefully reassured that in the i community, it is not the case). I believe there's a law now (in the U.S.) that requires a reviewer to acknowledge (in the review) if they receive compensation from the company who makes the product. (This is all from a memory of a news story I heard quite a few months ago, sorry I don't have specifics.)

-Kurt
-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jon Paris
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 10:48 AM
To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Adoption of RPG OA


On Mar 12, 2011, at 8:48 AM, rpg400-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Just because there is a juicy comision for the "profesional" giving
the advise.

I had to laugh about this one. I can only assume that you have never been paid to write an article. I don't know anyone (myself included) who does it for the money. I can make way more per hour by taking a few shifts at Burger King or Mickey D's. Most of us do it because we enjoy exploring and sharing our experiences. I have also never been paid by a vendor for recommending a product in an article. In fact I have turned down commissions for doing so because it would have compromised my neutrality. I know I am not the only one of the writers here in that position.

As far as OA in particular - I support its use - I think it offers an elegant, and more accessible solution for many problems than the alternatives. I thought so many years ago when I was with IBM and first proposed that extensions be made to the kind of support offered by SPECIAL files. It has been a lot of years in coming but I'm glad it is here.

Not everything that is advocated by folks on this list or in articles, blogs etc. is driven by the $ - Maybe where you're from - but not where I stand.


Jon Paris