Steve Rubel: Scoble is taking heat for not posting about the Vista delays for sometime.
I sort of feel sad for Robert Scoble these days, mainly because he’s a man who can’t admit the truth. Sure, maybe corporate lapdog is a bit harsh (I’ve just spent 20 minutes reading Gawker Media blogs….forgive me) but this whole “I’m not controlled by Microsoft” thing is a gigantic crock. Whether he likes it or not, he is self censoring. He writes that he doesn’t know enough about it so he’s reserving comment, but I ask this simple question: it’s never stopped him in the past, has it?
Robert, if you actually want to continue to maintain credibility in the blogosphere and the greater community, admit that your roll at Microsoft means that you have to limit what you say. Let’s be honest about it. Jason Calacanis has been now he’s at AOL and managed to tread very well around this issue whilst being upfront about it. The longer you maintain that you are free to speak as you please and quite obviously don’t, the worse things will become for you. I’ll be upfront and honest on the subject as well: one of the reasons I sold The Blog Herald was that my role in b5media quite honestly meant that I couldn’t be myself on certain things, because it damaged the company (anyone for a 9rules flame war??). I’m now not exploring those areas that come into conflict with my role at b5media here at duncanriley.com. I’m not being censored by Jeremy, Darren, Shai or anyone else for that matter, but I’ve learnt, accepted and even disclosed that being a responsible corporate citizen/ owner/ participant requires the occasional piece of self restraint, or even self censorship. You are no different Scoble, you just don’t like admitting to it.
You obviously haven’t read my book. Being a blogger doesn’t mean that you get total freedom of speech.
But, what’s funny is I get attacked no matter what I say. My readers attack me when I give them my first impressions without doing my homework. And you attack me for keeping my mouth shut until I have a chance to talk to senior leadership and learn what’s up.
I’m in Las Vegas this week working a conference. Give me a break.
Yeah, he commented on our Microsoft Future blog yesterday claiming he’s not having a nervous breakdown. His problem seems to be that he can only afford cheap Merlot. Good to see he’s got his priorities right. 🙂
Good Read Mate! But going about Corporate Lapgdog is a bit too harsh!
It’s a shame that Scoble gets attacked whatever he does partly the reason is jealousy partly it’s anti-microsoft. Scoble could have been more honest though.
Again, nice read duncan!
I agree with Jeremy – We all censor ourselves to one extent or another. Sometimes it’s for social reasons, sometimes professional and sometimes mandated.
I think for Robert it is more about what he can’t reveal due to secrecy (which I think any reader would implicitly expect) and what he doesn’t want to reveal for his own personal and professional restraint.
In this case, however, I think he was just swamped with work and trying to change his behavior because of feedback he received. I think that’s his only mistake – don’t give in to pressure! Post off the cuff like you always have and let the chips lay where they lay.
This story is running riot right now thanks to an Australian blogger called David Richards. That’s why I’m still blogging at midnight GMT. What do you know about him, Duncan? Is he credible?