The IT Skeptic - Comments for "Manipulating open content to commercial ends on Wikipedia - the ITIL entry"

Any inside info?

skeptic — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:45:59 +0000

The defenders of the commercial websites on Wikipedia ITIL continue their hysterical defense. Does anyone know who these poeple are? Their inability to engage rationally or reasonably is remarkable.

Badge of honour & Linkdin & ITSMF

donpage — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:29:24 +0000

Yes it was meant as a 'badge of honor'. My point is we are all allowed to be opinionated; i don't want anyone telling me what is the right way.

I love the fact that guys like Ron England created ITIL Skeptic; you and the other guys openly chose to criticize, but constructively with well formulated arguments.

A lot of the Linkedin content is advertorial marketing and publicity materials by suppliers selling their wares. I think probably its the vendors who read it the most, i know i do.

I agree that its a real problem for people new to ITSM, but thats where the ITSMF should be more responsive to its members needs. They should be promoting online open debate; including having a vendor area so organizations can openly sell their wares and not be charged a fortune for doing it

I believe there is still an inherent attitude of "But their a Vendor"; yes; but the reality is a lot of the vendors ARE experts. The challenge is of course to get the right balance. Roy and 'myself' are classic examples of this.

On an other note:

I have just had my presentation turned down for the UK ITSMF Conference "Introduction to ITIL & ISO20000"; which i think is a bloody disgrace; especially as i am one of the most hansom; charismatic; knowledgeable and exciting presenters ever to be a member of the ITSMF .

At each ITSMF event nearly 40% of the audience are there for the first time.

If there is not an introduction session for new members on this subject; I will be openly abusing the UK ITSMF management board at the annual AGM; and threatening to put my name forward for election.

Don

Respect

JamesFinister — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:32:53 +0000

OK Don, yes we do need a diversity of views, and we all recognise that vendors, whether consultants or tool providers, bring something to the table but how does the poor innocent punter know who to trust?

I will quote being "holyer than though" and "smug and opinionated" as a badges of honour if the two Robs and the reborn and reinvigorated Aiden are tarred with the same brush. ;-) In the web2.0 world though how is someone to know whether we are just being opinionated or not?

I think the two Robs, the original Aiden and myself have tried to support itSMF whenever possible. OK I'll admit I've been fairly vocal in my criticism of itSMF, but I always help when asked and would recommend others to do so. If in the UK I would recommend botht the free regional group meetings and getting involved in one of the SIGs

ITIL user community - stop being such a bunch of girls blouses

donpage — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:06:57 +0000

For me; the only official ITIL user group is the ITSMF, yes at times; some of the individuals decisions are stupid and badly thought out, and yes there is vested interests and yes, more information should be made freely available to members

The goal of the ITSMF was to be a member driven organisation, Where individuals and organisations can share their experiences and learns from others mistakes. For me its also the cheapest consultancy you can get anywhere on the subject of IT Service Management.

For many years many of us 'hansom old timers' struggled to spread the word; we now have the situation where we no longer have just the UK ITSMF, we chapters around the world, a plethora of online forums and related organisations (UKCMG, SDI etc).

You know what ? thats fantastic. We need the pragmatist's and analists, we need the Roy Englands, James Finisters, Rob Strouds and Aiden Lawes to be 'holyer than thou', 'smug and opinionated', we need the corporates who think they have all the answers; thats what makes it so great.

You will always get the tossers looking to make a buck - thats OK
You will always get the 'ITIL experts' - thats OK
You will always have people with their own views and opinions - thats OK
You will always get the people who want a quick fix solution - thats OK
You will always get people who think ITIL 2 is better than ITIL 3 - thats OK
You will always get the guys who wants to sell you their experience - thats OK
You will always get the corporates who try to control things - thats OK

What really matters thats theirs a lot of people willing to help, who can offer advice or guidance; free or otherwise.

I was told told by our first chairman of the ITSMF in the UK (IVOR Evans); "Don you are always criticizing ITIL and the ITSMF", and added scornfully; "So either contribute and make a difference or shut up"; So i decided to contribute.

So my advice to everyone is; become a member of the ITSMF, contribute and make a difference. If you think that the ITSMF in your region is shit, stupid, arrogant or opinionated, put yourself forward; change it; make a difference.

Don Page

PS. don't diss me; i don't care

PS. i know my spelling and punctuation is very bad; I don't care