On Microsoft's Increased Sponsorship of FIRST // Was: Microsoft Regional

[gblake]

Originally Posted by ebarker

lot of people were glad to see the standards.

Careful there - A product is not a standard.

Originally Posted by dtengineering

...by providing the world with a de facto standard operating system and office suite it has made it possible to write programs and documents that can be executed/read on basically any computer on the planet....

You say this as though there isn't a better way to have accomplished the same goal. If asked, I think I can name at least two ways to have reached the same goal, and one way to move forward from where we are today. None of them would have been as profitable for Microsoft, but I assert that they would serve computer users better than the current state of affairs.

Originally Posted by dtengineering

Perhaps some standardization might not be a bad thing, and if it is done by a company that has created tens of thousands of good jobs in the Pacific Northwest... it could be worse, couldn't it?

This is a very, red herring. The question is not whether a currently not-excellent situation could have been made worse; but whether it could have been, or could be, made better. In alternative scenarios there might be even more economic stimulation of the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the globe; or there might not.

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

I would hope that the FIRST community would have enough common sense to show some respect....

You did not read all of the statements that have been made carefully enough.

It would seem to me that everyone in this discussion respects large corporations' clout immensely; and that they attempt to praise or dislike other things corporations do, according to the merits of those other things. In short they appear to give respect when and where it is earned. I agree that doing differently would be very disrespectful.

This discussion began when someone speculated that sponsoring a FIRST regional might be part of Microsoft's general foray into the robotics software market. I have attempted to explain why that person's comment is a perfectly reasonable guess to make.

The discussion has slid sideways into whether being annoyed at some of Microsoft's business practices is the same as disliking their unencumbered support of a FIRST regional. I'm pretty sure that the two are not the same.

I do profusely and fervently thank Microsoft Corporation for all donations that are aimed at inspiring students.

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

If anything, we should be getting Microsoft representatives out to every regional (maybe there will be?) to see just how FIRST inspires its students.

No one said we shouldn't. Make it happen.

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

Regardless of how you may feel about their business practices, the sheer size of Microsoft alone should give a hint as to how much FIRST stands to gain from partnering more with them.

Or lose... Big and/or wealthy does not equate to good-partner or to bad-partner. Good donor perhaps; but not necessarily good (or bad) partner.

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

This has the potential to fund more regionals, start more teams, and inspire students in places around the world. What could be better than that?

Under the perfectly reasonable assumption that corporation XYZ's donations come without strings attached beyond generating good will and name recognition, that will be a good thing. However, to answer your question, simple cash donations that don't have any strings whatsoever attached to them are even better.

Originally Posted by M. Krass

I never thought I'd see the day when people would be anything but excited by growth of the program.

I don't think that you have seen that day yet. I do think you have seen a discussion started by a speculation that Microsoft's increased support of FIRST might be connected to their recent foray into the robotics software development market. So far I have not seen anyone ask Pavan or any other poster if they are delighted or not by Microsoft's support making it possible to add another regional in the Pacific Northwest....

My answer is above.

Blake