Comment Feed for Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive (Rory on Channel 9)

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Olav32 — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:54:18 GMT

Rory,

First of all, sorry for calling you stupid.

Second, I just gave my two cents. I'm not trying to get you fired.

Third, it's hard to provide decent feedback on this kind of content. It's like when you are giving your opinion on a painting and you simply say that you don't like it. If someone asks you to give some constructive feedback, what would you say? "The blue background should be red"? "The woman on the right should be looking the other way around"?

I don't think it works that way.

I just don't like the way you conduct interviews. Don't get this to a personal level (sorry again for calling you stupid, I was upset). I will try to watch the Windows Home Server interview again and I will try to give a few examples that illustrate my opinion.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Rory — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:46:51 GMT

KevinB wrote:
Rory, calm down. I know it must be incredibly frustrating when you get feedback like that, but honestly, whats the point in arguing with him.

Trolls are trolls, if he or she sees that they are annoying you, then they will just continue, which is pretty shitty considering this was such a fun thread.

I guess this guy just stepped over a line, and did so on the wrong day. I've been pretty stressed out (for personal reasons), and this troll provided me with an easy target.

Plus, he called me out. Usually, trolls slam products or ideas or whatever - that doesn't bother me so much, as products don't have feelings (as far as I know).

But, it got to me. And I think I won.

That is the point.

I just don't let people walk all over me. I've been this way my whole life - trolls in forums, or jerks in "real life" - if my patience is low, I'll respond.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

KevinB — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 12:35:19 GMT

Rory wrote:

Olav32 wrote: HumanCompiler wrote: Olav32 wrote: This guy, Rory, is simply stupid. He shouldn't be making any other Channel 9 video. Scoble was soooo much better.I can't see a whole Channel 9 video since this guy came in.If you care to provide some ACTUAL feedback on how Rory could improve his videos, feel free. I'm sure he'd be very glad to hear some constructive criticism. If you don't have any of that, then don't bother posting. Thanks and move along! He has access to very interesting people and interview them but he doesn't make interesting questions. He's not smart enough to get along with these people.That's why I don't think "feedback on how Rory could improve his videos" will work, because the problem is Rory himself.Just watch the Windows Home Server video.
OK. This is about what I expected.The "Windows Home Server" video was one of the most "coached" videos I've done so far on this team. I was instructed to keep my questions to a narrow scope, covering only certain details. The questions I really wanted to ask were there, but they got cut (you might have noticed that I was completely transparent about that - I was honest).Anyway, I'm not going anywhere. If you think that one person calling me "stupid" is the sort of thing that's going to get me fired, or moved to another position, or whatever, then I might suggest that you aren't exactly the smartest man in the world.If, then, you have some serious issues with my interviewing style, here are some suggestions (believe it or not, I'm quite content with the knowledge that some people out there will hate me, and there's nothing I can do about it):1. Be constructive by providing feedback. For example, you said, "Just wath the Windows Home Server video." Now, you clearly didn't know anything about what was going on behind the scenes, or that my questions were being limited by the product team (and this is all right - it's up to them when/if certain features are announced - I'm not going to, as Jeff might put it, "throw the company under a bus" just to get an exclusive story). Here's an example of how you could have done things differently - I'll use you as my subjectlav32, instead of being so stupid as to think that everybody who watched that video was going to have the same reaction you did, why don't you pause to consider the possibility that some people liked it. Taken that possibility (small though it may be (after all, I'm stupid)), why don't you point out what was wrong with the approach I took so that I can work to improve my skills. I may not agree with you, as you probaby have no idea what goes into producing a video interview of an unreleased product when the product team wants to keep some control over the release of information, but I will take your criticisms into consideration - even if you are a complete (I need to watch my language).2. Filter my videos out - you don't have to watch them. Find the news elsewhere. Check TechMeme for info. Search Technorati. Check out team blogs. Read magazines. Go on IRC and watch the unsubstantiated rumors fly.3. Watch only the videos submitted by Charles.4. Watch only the archives - everything produced before I arrived.5. Go away.This last option, in your case, wouldn't bother me that much, but I gave you the first four ideas to try before you leave the C9 fold.Use this information as you see fit, my friend.

Rory, calm down. I know it must be incredibly frustrating when you get feedback like that, but honestly, whats the point in arguing with him.

Trolls are trolls, if he or she sees that they are annoying you, then they will just continue, which is pretty shitty considering this was such a fun thread.

Kevin

P.S. Sampy, if you had real cahonies (spelling all wrong no doubt) you would let someone test that helmet to destruction, with your noggin inside it. I recommend Rory as he clearly needs to let off some steam :)

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Rory — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:19:36 GMT

Olav32 wrote:
HumanCompiler wrote: Olav32 wrote: This guy, Rory, is simply stupid. He shouldn't be making any other Channel 9 video. Scoble was soooo much better.I can't see a whole Channel 9 video since this guy came in.If you care to provide some ACTUAL feedback on how Rory could improve his videos, feel free. I'm sure he'd be very glad to hear some constructive criticism. If you don't have any of that, then don't bother posting. Thanks and move along! He has access to very interesting people and interview them but he doesn't make interesting questions. He's not smart enough to get along with these people.That's why I don't think "feedback on how Rory could improve his videos" will work, because the problem is Rory himself.Just watch the Windows Home Server video.

OK. This is about what I expected.The "Windows Home Server" video was one of the most "coached" videos I've done so far on this team. I was instructed to keep my questions to a narrow scope, covering only certain details. The questions I really wanted to ask were there, but they got cut (you might have noticed that I was completely transparent about that - I was honest).Anyway, I'm not going anywhere. If you think that one person calling me "stupid" is the sort of thing that's going to get me fired, or moved to another position, or whatever, then I might suggest that you aren't exactly the smartest man in the world.If, then, you have some serious issues with my interviewing style, here are some suggestions (believe it or not, I'm quite content with the knowledge that some people out there will hate me, and there's nothing I can do about it):1. Be constructive by providing feedback. For example, you said, "Just wath the Windows Home Server video." Now, you clearly didn't know anything about what was going on behind the scenes, or that my questions were being limited by the product team (and this is all right - it's up to them when/if certain features are announced - I'm not going to, as Jeff might put it, "throw the company under a bus" just to get an exclusive story). Here's an example of how you could have done things differently - I'll use you as my subject:Olav32, instead of being so stupid as to think that everybody who watched that video was going to have the same reaction you did, why don't you pause to consider the possibility that some people liked it. Taken that possibility (small though it may be (after all, I'm stupid)), why don't you point out what was wrong with the approach I took so that I can work to improve my skills. I may not agree with you, as you probaby have no idea what goes into producing a video interview of an unreleased product when the product team wants to keep some control over the release of information, but I will take your criticisms into consideration - even if you are a complete (I need to watch my language).2. Filter my videos out - you don't have to watch them. Find the news elsewhere. Check TechMeme for info. Search Technorati. Check out team blogs. Read magazines. Go on IRC and watch the unsubstantiated rumors fly.3. Watch only the videos submitted by Charles.4. Watch only the archives - everything produced before I arrived.5. Go away.This last option, in your case, wouldn't bother me that much, but I gave you the first four ideas to try before you leave the C9 fold.Use this information as you see fit, my friend.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Rory — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:00:58 GMT

Olav32 wrote:
This guy, Rory, is simply stupid. He shouldn't be making any other Channel 9 video. Scoble was soooo much better.

I can't see a whole Channel 9 video since this guy came in.

I don't know if "stupid" is the right word - My IQ, at least according to the irritating tests to which I was subjected early on in school, hovers right around 162 (I've tested just above and just below that score). While I generally think IQ tests are a crock of s***, that they don't really measure raw brain power (as some test problems rely on very specific knowledge rather than the inference of rules derived from an examination of the possible answers to the question itself (what I would consider to be one of the better ways of really determining how intelligent someone is)), I still think they're a halfway decent way to ballpark whether or not someone is "stupid" (barring issues such as ADD, dyslexia, and so on, where a person might appear "stupid", but is actually quite intelligent).

Not saying I'd want to be tested again after all of the, -ahem-, "partying" I did during my teen and early adult years, and especially since now, at the age of 29, I'm roughly four years into a process that will continue for the rest of my life, which is an overall decrease in brain volume, resulting in a loss of roughly 10% of what I started with (as a young adult) by the time I die, assuming I die around the age of 80, and that my curve follows the average (don't worry - it'll happen to you, too - all males (but not females, curiously enough) lose this mass, and it usually starts around age 25, although it can begin as late as 30, too).

That, and, when I was tested, it was just before that magical age where the brain goes through a selective "pruning" that results in roughly half the neuronal density present throughout one's childhood (and that, by the by, is after the previous "pruning" events - it's just that the last major one takes place just before, or around, puberty).

Oh, and, if all this silly IQ/neurology stuff is boring you, let me know :)

OK. All that said, I find it crass to display one's IQ in public (particularly if it's rather high), but I've had just about enough of anonymous netzien's calling me "stupid" - feel free to say you don't like my style, and then do us all a favor by following up with an intelligent list of suggestions as to how my style could be improved, but don't simply attack me, or my intelligence, and then wander off.

Now, since I haven't read the rest of the thread, I expect I'll find that there's a small argument going on, and that I'm going to have to respond yet again - hopefully for the last time, as this is a waste of time for everybody here - in defense of me, my intelligence, and my style.

Regardless of how you feel, though, I was hired to do this job because it seemed I was competent. That's based on the interviewing skills I picked up during .NET Rocks, the social skills I cultivated throughout my teen and early adult years, my genuine interest in the people I'm interviewing (take the Guthrie interview I just did, for example - I was giddy to meet this guy because his brain fascinates me - or Mike Calligaro - what a gem - he's absolutely brilliant, and it was a joy to meet him), and the fact that, however you might feel about my interviewing skills, they're probably better than yours, buddy.

It was Ezra Pound who said something to the effect of, and I'm paraphrasing here, "Do not take any criticism seriously from anyone who has not, himself, already produced a work of some notable value in the same medium."

That's not exactly what he said, and I could certainly find the quote online, but I'm not in the mood. I'll make do with the memory I acquired ten years ago in a bookstore in Prague where I found a book on Pound and literary criticism.

The point, sir, is that you haven't done diddly in this area, and, until you've done diddly, I won't have any problem with any ad-hominems (feel free to attack my character all you want), but I will take issue with questions of my competence and basic intellectual ability to conduct these interviews.

There.

I have spoken.

Feel free to attempt to respond in kind, but don't feel pressured to. I understand that doing so would probably be very difficult (at best).

If you do nothing more than write another "You're stupid!" comment and run away, I'll consider this to have been a success.

Thank you for your time and patience, sir. You are a fine example of your kind.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Rory — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:30:03 GMT

CannotResolveSymbol wrote:

Rory wrote:
Hey, all.

I'm glad that the overall reaction seems to be positive.

There have been a lot of talks lately at 9 about what kind of content we'll be doing. My feeling is that we need to return to the shorter, more interesting videos.

[snip]

The changes are the result of everything I've observed since coming on board in late October. As a former customer of Channel 9, I think I'm right about what needs to be done, but I'm just one guy.

What do you think?

I'll have to agree. There is a place for lengthy videos about things like testing and deploying IPV6 or production planning with Dynamics AX, but the really compelling videos that people want to see are interviews with interesting people focusing on those people or the topics that those people are really passionate about. Early in Channel 9, there were a lot of these types of videos-- the first two "real" videos were with Bill Hill, about spaces after periods and about human interaction-- two things that he, working in reading technology, is passionate about. The videos were able to focus in on one topic and they were not only informative but also showed the human side of Microsoft-- passionate people working on projects that they love and that they are passionate about.

That was an almost picture-perfect answer :)

At least according to what I was hoping to see.

I believe you're right, and I hope that, as I browse the rest of the thread, I find that this is the overall sentiment.

Thanks for answering, yo.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

jason818_253.33 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:27:53 GMT

KevinB wrote:

On a more serious note, I don't think C9 should go to eccentric and weird. However, I have noticed over the past year that C9 has very very much moved away from being the face of Microsoft, to, I hate to use the word marketing, and I won't, but more towards showcasing products.

I think there needs to be a good balance, but it has been a while since C9 did a totally 'off-topic' sort of video like following Bill Hill around campus.

Just my €0.02

Kevin

...let the interviewed person talk about their interests, when a nerve gets hit, it doesn’t take much coaching to get some one to open up and talk about what it is they love. Be that WPF or animal tracks in the mud. Every one has a story of where it is they come from and just about every one has a personal interest (often times its reflected in the work they do or ties in to it). I think that’s what is so great about the Bill Hill video, he talked about what he had a passion for and it showed and then he tied it into the work he has done at MS. So my constructive crit would be to let people talk, talk about what they have a passion for. Dig into who they are. I find its the interviews that get in side peoples heads and finding out who they are are the interviews i like the most. (and CH9 has alot of those type of interviews).
The qualities of enthusiasm, inquisitiveness coupled with listening go a long way to making a great interview.
Traits Rory does not seem to lack.

Rather than having ‘more’ intelligent questions be asked like some one said earlier, maybe it’s a matter of fewer questions and more Listening?

Just my €0.02 + Kevin’s €0.02

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Erik Porter — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:25:06 GMT

Olav32 wrote:

He has access to very interesting people and interview them but he doesn't make interesting questions. He's not smart enough to get along with these people.

That's why I don't think "feedback on how Rory could improve his videos" will work, because the problem is Rory himself.

Just watch the Windows Home Server video.

Again, that's worthless feedback. It's about as useful as my feedback to you being, "you're not smart enough to provide feedback so we're going to stop listening now." Is that something you want us saying to you? It's a two way road.

KevinB wrote:
Scoble you crafty old dog, surely there are easier ways of getting your job back than this?

On a more serious note, I don't think C9 should go to eccentric and weird. However, I have noticed over the past year that C9 has very very much moved away from being the face of Microsoft, to, I hate to use the word marketing, and I won't, but more towards showcasing products.

I think there needs to be a good balance, but it has been a while since C9 did a totally 'off-topic' sort of video like following Bill Hill around campus.

Also, as always, my number 1 request for an interview is the Singularity team.

Another feature request I have, now that I am on a roll, is for a schedule of videos to be posted somewhere, maybe another forum? The way it could work would be that only the C9 team have rights to create a thread, but everyone can post, and we would be able to post questions that we want asked in upcoming interviews.

Just my €0.02

Kevin

That's good feedback, Kevin, thanks! The schedule is something we've talked about, but haven't moved forward on yet.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

KevinB — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:11:35 GMT

Olav32 wrote:

HumanCompiler wrote:

Olav32 wrote: This guy, Rory, is simply stupid. He shouldn't be making any other Channel 9 video. Scoble was soooo much better.

I can't see a whole Channel 9 video since this guy came in.

If you care to provide some ACTUAL feedback on how Rory could improve his videos, feel free. I'm sure he'd be very glad to hear some constructive criticism. If you don't have any of that, then don't bother posting. Thanks and move along!

He has access to very interesting people and interview them but he doesn't make interesting questions. He's not smart enough to get along with these people.

That's why I don't think "feedback on how Rory could improve his videos" will work, because the problem is Rory himself.

Just watch the Windows Home Server video.

Scoble you crafty old dog, surely there are easier ways of getting your job back than this?

On a more serious note, I don't think C9 should go to eccentric and weird. However, I have noticed over the past year that C9 has very very much moved away from being the face of Microsoft, to, I hate to use the word marketing, and I won't, but more towards showcasing products.

I think there needs to be a good balance, but it has been a while since C9 did a totally 'off-topic' sort of video like following Bill Hill around campus.

Also, as always, my number 1 request for an interview is the Singularity team.

Another feature request I have, now that I am on a roll, is for a schedule of videos to be posted somewhere, maybe another forum? The way it could work would be that only the C9 team have rights to create a thread, but everyone can post, and we would be able to post questions that we want asked in upcoming interviews.

Just my €0.02

Kevin

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Olav32 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:45:15 GMT

HumanCompiler wrote:

Olav32 wrote: This guy, Rory, is simply stupid. He shouldn't be making any other Channel 9 video. Scoble was soooo much better.

I can't see a whole Channel 9 video since this guy came in.

If you care to provide some ACTUAL feedback on how Rory could improve his videos, feel free. I'm sure he'd be very glad to hear some constructive criticism. If you don't have any of that, then don't bother posting. Thanks and move along!

He has access to very interesting people and interview them but he doesn't make interesting questions. He's not smart enough to get along with these people.

That's why I don't think "feedback on how Rory could improve his videos" will work, because the problem is Rory himself.

Just watch the Windows Home Server video.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Erik Porter — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 04:32:24 GMT

Olav32 wrote:
This guy, Rory, is simply stupid. He shouldn't be making any other Channel 9 video. Scoble was soooo much better.

I can't see a whole Channel 9 video since this guy came in.

If you care to provide some ACTUAL feedback on how Rory could improve his videos, feel free. I'm sure he'd be very glad to hear some constructive criticism. If you don't have any of that, then don't bother posting. Thanks and move along! :)

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Olav32 — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:21:36 GMT

This guy, Rory, is simply stupid. He shouldn't be making any other Channel 9 video. Scoble was soooo much better.

I can't see a whole Channel 9 video since this guy came in.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Erik Porter — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 07:36:39 GMT

I wish I could've been there for this. Alas, I was next door in a 2 hour meeting. I ran into it the second I saw Rory pull out the camera! :P Good one guys...very funny! :)

jsampsonPC wrote:

Lately I've been an iPod + Podcast junkie. Is it at all possible to get an RSS of audio from the videos? Some of the videos deal with on-screen code, yes, but for the most part I just love listening. If I could subscribe via iTunes, and download the latest shows in audio format, that would be awesome! Not to mention the fact that iTunes would probably attract more attention over here at c9.

Your wish is our command.

Re: Sampy Gets Shot in the Face - A Channel 9 Exclusive

Rory — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:23:35 GMT

Hey, all.

I'm glad that the overall reaction seems to be positive.

There have been a lot of talks lately at 9 about what kind of content we'll be doing. My feeling is that we need to return to the shorter, more interesting videos.

As someone relatively new to the team, I've observed that 9 has slowly turned into a place where we post these one hour long videos that, while interesting, aren't especially compelling. They're good, they're well done, but they're also very formulaic. We haven't been looking for the human face of Microsoft - we've been making videos about products. It doesn't seem to be about the people anymore.

Now, I'm not sure if you all would agree with me, which is why I'm writing this. I'll probably make a post on my blog as well.

But, it's my opinion that the site needs more fun, more weirdness, and more of the eccentric types around here. We have so many interesting people - people who do amazing things here, and who did amazing things in their former lives as non-softies - but we're ignoring them.

I want to change that. Before doing that, however, I thought I'd go for a little feedback to see what people think.

And, like I said, I'll probably also be writing a post about this.

The changes are the result of everything I've observed since coming on board in late October. As a former customer of Channel 9, I think I'm right about what needs to be done, but I'm just one guy.

What do you think?