Re: I think they've done it again

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 3 Aug 2006 12:29:07 -0400, "Robert Green"
<ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
<K4ydnZbO1PgJuU_ZnZ2dnUVZ_oCdnZ2d@xxxxxxx>:


>There's a new post at:
>http://www.techmall.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=405

Yes. I cited it previously to point out that INSTEON now provides
instructions with direct phone number and including free shipping on how to
exchange units. Excellent, important, timely news for those that actually
have INSTEON V2 dimmers

>which seems to be Smarthome's official forum but it could also be someone
>calling themselves that.  Anyway,

Oh, Lordy.   It is, in my opinion, a disservice to folks reading this
newsgroup to purposely create uncertainty where there is none about the
credibility of this "© 2000-2006 SmartLabs, Inc" Smarthome Forum and the
individual SmartLabs Administrator named SmartLabsMike announcing and
explaining the INSTEON dimmer return procedure on behalf of Smarthome.

I'll let others decide whether this apparent attempt by Bobby to create FUD
and confusion results from 'motivated cognition' (ala Jost et al) or
something else. But I will correct the record by pointing out what Bobby
could figger out by his lonesome:

1) The forum is prominently labeled as "© 2000-2006 SmartLabs, Inc"
2) A whois search confirms that the domain is managed/owned by SmartHome
3) The site makes copious use of trade-marked SmartHome and INSTEON name
and graphics
4) It is prominently labeled "Smarthome Forum" using Smarthome trademark
5) The poster's handle is SmartLabsMike
6) SmartLabsMike is an official Forum Administrator and has posted 478
times
7) SmartLabsMike lists http://www.insteon.net/ as his home url in his sig
which in turn is prominently labeled " ©2004-2006 SmartLabs? Inc. All
rights reserved. " In the very post Bobby cites.

And if Bobby actually had a question --which I doubt --, he could use the
FAQ at the site that would tell him to email shforumadmin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx for
further questions.

Why would anyone that actually wants to be _helpful_ suggest that the post
was not authoritative? What purpose does Bobby G's smearing of reality
serve except to create FUD and to try to discredit the authority of the
post that provides the solution to (real) users' (real) needs by providing
detailed instructions on how to return defective dimmers? This is not
helpful in my opinion.

Bobby's post adds a third hyp-word to those that already characterize the
content of many of his other posts because it is Bobby who is challenging
SmartLabs credibility while repeatedly damaging his own though his own
avoidable actions.

So this post seems (to me) to lack objectivity even from the git-go. It is
my conclusion that this sort of post damages the overall credibility of the
newsgroup just as do repeated exaggerations. I doubt that Bobby sees it
that way, but others do. This is not a personal attack. It is an expression
of concern for posts that diminish the usefulness and credibility of the
newsgroup.

<big snip of mostly what I view as quibbling and lack of objectivity that
in turn colors the parts of the analysis that does accord with the facts in
my opinion. >

>I don't understand how people can support the actions of a company that
>would foist defective products on people and just "hope" for the best.

Pray tell, Bobby, who are the so-called "supporters" of INSTEON? An actual
name, please, not hippo-endo. Is Bobby implying that someone who buys
INSTEON is a "supporter"? Or is he confusing "supporter" with 'apologist'?
I have read nothing in this newsgroup that suggests that _anyone_
"supports" inappropriate behaviour by SmartHome with regard to the INSTEON
mess. Why the straw horse?

I note that Bobby posted his message using Microsoft Outlook Express
5.50.4807.1700.

Does not "understand[ing] how people can support the actions of a company
that would foist defective products on people and just 'hope' for the best"
include not understanding why 90% of the world's computers use Microsoft
OS?  Or why Bobby himself uses MS products?

(Last week I did a fresh install of MS XP using a Service Pack 2 CD after
which I had to update and additional *62* files of patches and fixes
(beyond the umpteen already in the SP1 and SP2 rollups already included in
the CD). So much for finding all the problems and them fixing the in Beta
(or RC1 or RC2, or RTM or SP1 or SP2!) If MS had waited to find all the
bugs, we might still be (e.g.) paying Big Blue $5000 per box.

I come to the conclusion that Bobby is doubtless a fine individual with
noble intentions who, as noted by others, gets 'carried away' in his
advocacy of a position. This is not a personal attack.

But I do from time-to-time note the more obviously factually incorrect
things that he writes in this newsgroup and post my views on the matter. He
is free to respond. But in my experience, and like the current "Leader of
the Free World", he doesn't acknowledge or correct his mistakes. The best
solution is not for me to stop commenting on exaggerations and
misstatements. The best solution IMO is to stop making them in the first
place, but I know better than to expect behaviour to be modified by usenet
posts.  And however sanctimonious it may sound, in my opinion, it does
serve comp.home.automation constructively to have the record corrected so
that others are not mislead.

 ... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org