Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : IFMX - Investment Discussion -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Charles Hughes who wrote (10174)	4/6/1998 3:47:00 PM
From: @jim	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14631

Chaz...Touche', yourself. Two pages of reply over a single comment! First, IMHO you are overreacting. Second, I don't think you understood the intent of my comments. Or, where I was coming from. (For those of you just joining us, see Reply #'s 10116,10125 and 10174) My comments were NOT, as you put it, "knee-jerk disrespectful comments towards technical people." In fact, what I was doing was simply standing up for the contribution of good marketing. From my experience (8 years in biochemistry and systems theory, before getting into marketing and advertising) it is no easier or less technical to build great ads or positioning statements, than it is to develop "elegant" code. The point I was making was that marketing is also a very technical discipline. (Which is given much less respect from "technical people" than visa versa.) The building blocks of great marketing and advertising programs are very meticulously and technically created, beta tested and rolled-out. The process is not at all unlike the development of software or hardware products. (Which I've been involved with twice as the CEO of two different ventures) Of course, everyone does and should have an opinion. A reaction. And a final like or dislike of the result of some marketing element. Just as the world gives opinions on technical work by buying, or not buying products. Market research is all about understanding these point of views for the benefit of a company, its products and its investors. But, back to my original point, opinions should and are given different weights based on who they come from. On a marketing or advertising topic, a professional in that discipline will probably have a much more informed opinion about them, than, lets say, a software engineer. On the other hand, when it comes to how and why a software program is coded in a certain way, the marketers opinion is going to be rather naive in comparison to the developers. That's all I was saying. I do ads and position for a living. I run an agency and do consulting on this level. I write the words. And much more. It's mighty damn technical. And if one hasn't done it at a national or international level, then they should at least qualify their opinions as just opinions. (eg. IMO) A professional opinion (eg. IMPO) (be it right or wrong) on the topic, should garner a bit more respect. Now, on to some of your uncalled for comments. Such as "the cogitations of those lame intellectuals in marketing ....those things that suits do to make themselves feel like they are contributing. Gotta get their fingerpritns on there." (What kind of prejudice is this. Do you even get what marketers do? By the way, where do I fit...I write copy and develop campaigns all day at my computer in blue jeans...then put on a suit to present to management so they believe they are working with a professional. Its all about packaging! The suit has nothing to do with it!) And you, Chaz are calling for less "disrespectul comments" of technical people? I for one apologize to all who thought I was being disrespectful of "technial people." I certainly wasn't making comments like yours. For the record, I have a tremendous respect for the technical skills, creativity and exploratory spirit of what you call "geeks, nerds, techies." (I never used such phrases...maybe technies once or twice.) My father was an infamous, but brilliant optical engineer. The top in his field. His company, Kodak, promised parallel money and title to those who made a career on the "Technical Track" rather than the "Management Track." It never happened. I'm still bitter about it. He filed, and Kodak kept, so many of his patents it makes me sick. So I think I know what you are talking about when you refer to how the "public" doesn't respect technical people and that it costs you money. On the other hand, the world is changing and companies are looking for IT superstars and starting to pay them what they are worth. Enough said. I have a ton of "technical marketing" work to do which I'm dedicated to doing extremely well so that all the truely brilliant products from my client's development groups will have a real chance to make it in the "cut-throat" marketplace we all now live in. Jim