Roy, Newsgroups metrics is old news for MVP now. There are a lot of other things that are taken into account. I have hardly been active in newsgroups, yet I was nominated to be an MVP. Don't do something just to become an MVP. That's backwards. Do it because you just can't help yourself.
Julie. I was (unsuccefully) trying to be sarcastic. No, I wouldn't do it just because it holds MVP status, but , I do not agree with how MVPs are chosen. You should really know by now that if I do anything in the public .Net area, it's because I "couldn't help it" first.
But, I won't hide the fact that yes, I do have an agenda here. Is it something to be ashamed of? I'm sure most of the current MVPs at least *considered* being an MVP on purpose. And I don't see it as a bad thing. What, is the only way you're allowed to help people is if you are a "true at heart give it all away and ask for nothing jsut because you get to type on the keyboard" kind of person? you're not allowed to have an agenda when doing it? C'mon.
Microsoft wouldn't have made such a thing as an MVP award if it didn't make people want to chime in on the NGs. And it works. Now it's a catch-22 all of a sudden? "You can help in the newsgroups, but the only way you deserve an MVP is if you don't think about it/do something to actively get it"?
what's wrong with a win/win for all? the NGs get good answers from dedicated people that, sure, have an agenda, but wouldn't be doing all this if it weren't for the love they have for what they do, and the MVPs get recogntion for the help they provide other people. what's wrong with that?
THe only thing wrong is that I don't see any other way to get that recognition. a blogging MVP , when I raised this issue a while ago, is almost a 0% chance of happening. Why? all the people who answered me said that the *only* way is through the NGs. That sucks and it should change. Perhaps, Julie, it's easier for past MVPs to get re-elected, otherwise, I bet you that even if I did double the amazing work you are doing in the comunnity, if I didn't have the right connections and I wouldn't post on the NGs, I would *never* get an MVP.
perhaps.. a MVP is one who came to the newsgroup for help, got help & is giving back more than he/she received.. :-)
The newsgroups are an interesting place. There is alot of noise(and repeated questions), and you will have to deal with alot more OSS flaming and the like, but the rare good discussion tends to last longer and provide more information that those in the blogsphere.
Also, reading about what people are having problems with helps generate more information that other methods. Alot of the interesting little factoids you'll find are because it was the solution to someone's problem, its simply not possible to find everything on your own.
I personally am active in several different community areas, newsgroups(don't forget the new winfx ones if your interested in longhorn\winfx), developmentor mailing lists, etc. I find most of them to be more useful, on a daily basis, than the blogsphere. It is just too limited a medium for full two way exchange.
Thanks for the comments guys. I can definitely see that I've been missing on something. Guess I have more learning to do :)