Doug,

Does this mean that you too are uncomfortable with with these
unqualified claims to greatness?

<HP3000 isn't any worse than other systems wouldn't benefit anyone
either.>

I agree.   So what do we do?

Take a look at HP ads such as at:
http://www.businessservers.hp.com/products/index.html

HP calls the HP e3000  interoperable, scalable, reliable, high
availablily, worry-free business computing.

"Scalable - the e3000 has a low-end to high-end performance increase
of 3000%"

"Worry-free business computing means you get up and running fast. As a
mature platform with over 25 years of success, hundreds of experienced
partners, and tens-of-thousands of satisfied customers, the HP e3000
gets the job done -- and gets it done quickly."

Lets take some clues from CSY marketing!

Cortlandt Wilson
Cortlandt Software
Mountain View, CA
(650) 966-8555
http://www.cortsoft.com    (MANMAN Resources Guide)

"Doug Becker" <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message
news:39a13eea_2@skycache-news.fidnet.com...
> Although I could see where the message that the HP3000 isn't any
worse than other systems wouldn't benefit anyone either.
>
> >>> Cortlandt Wilson <[log in to unmask]> 08/18 7:06 PM >>>
> Ken,
>
> In reference to:   http://www.editcorp.com/wsj/kens-ad-1.html
>
> My major guiding principle for communicating about difficult issues
is
> to structure the message so that 'the other guy' can make up his own
> mind as a free and informed choice.    (I get this from Prof. Chris
> Argris of Harvard who is considered one of the top men in the
field.)
> A informed choice requires, obviously, information - specifically
> valid information that others can verify for themselves.
>
> I bring up valid information because I believe that statements to
the
> effect that MPE is the best operating system doesn't pass muster.
> If anyone else claimed that their favorite operating system or
> programming language was the "best" we would surly counter with
> questions like:
>   o best for what purpose or use?
>   o best by what criteria?
>   o How is that measured?
>   o What evidence do you have for your claims?
>
> Claims to unqualified greatness frankly "gets my back up".
>
> If we make such a statement we must stand ready to answer such
> questions but I don't see how we can in one ad.   Also claims to
> unqualified greatness activates my defenses.   It is wise to be
> minimally objectionable unless the message is worth the initial
upset
> and defensiveness that the message would predictably invoke.
> IMO the claim to be "the best" opens up a real "snake pit" with more
> downside than upside.
>
> Furthermore, the bald claim, without extensive supporting
> documentation, that MPE is the best looses credibility with me --
and
> I'm a 3k "bigot"!   That thought applies more so to the Image DBMS
> which has, in my opinion, some noteworthy shortcomings.
>
> There are many good things to be said about MPE/iX but the statement
> that MPE/iX is flat out THE best OS should not be allowed to stand.
>
> We can avoid a lot of the difficulty if, for instance, we say that
MPE
> is reliable, stable, open, and relatively easy to use.    In this
way
> we make public our criteria of "goodness" and each claim can be
fairly
> quickly supported to a first approximation.
>
> With gratitude for your excellent contributions to MPE and the 3000L
> - Cortlandt
>