The Microsoft Open Source Software Lab’s new Port 25 site has generated quite a bit of discussion over the past week. The site asks people to “Send us your feedback and ideas. We want to hear from you.” (Port 25). In the case of public forums, especially at a company as visible as Microsoft, people may just take you up on the offer.
As GM found with their ‘Write Your Own Ad’ campaign, you will get some feedback that you want and some that you do not want. In Microsoft’s case, “There have been hundreds of blog posts and hundreds of emails sent – both through the feedback aliases and many that you have sent directly to me. There have been rants, demands, questions, encouragement, suspicion, affirmation, ideas, pontifications and guidance.” (Bill Hilf, Microsoft)