Even Microsoft wants G5s
15Minutes October 23rd, 2003 |UPDATE: Please take the time to read my followup post, Fifteen Minutes of Fame, for my thoughts on what happened after I posted this picture, why it happened — and most importantly, why I don’t blame Microsoft for their actions. Thanks!
It looks like somebody over in Microsoft land is getting some new toys…
I took this shot on the way into work on the loading dock (MSCopy, the print shop I work in, is in the same building as MS’s shipping and receiving). Three palettes of Dual 2.0Ghz G5’s on their way in to somewhere deep in the bowels of Redmond. Hopefully they’re all in good condition when they arrive — the boxes are slick enough that a few of them took a bit of a tumble (you can see them back in the truck)!
[See also: Of blogging and unemployment | Howdy, Wired readers! | Konichiwa! | Building 42 | Washington Post article on Blogging and Jobs ]
October 27th, 2003 at 3:08 pm
Of blogging and unemployment
And that simply, as of about 2pm today, I once again joined the ranks of the unemployed.
October 27th, 2003 at 7:38 pm
Blog with care
Mind what you blog, it might get you the sack even if the posting is not about the company you work in.
October 28th, 2003 at 12:27 am
Careful about your blogging
Another example illustrating that you should think twice before blogging. Michael has really been screwed here. One entry just being funny results in him been fired. Microsoft is really acting like a disgruntled four-year old. Heck, I could understand it
October 28th, 2003 at 8:19 am
Careful what you write…
Take care what you write about on your blogs, forums, etc. It appears that one of the bloggers I have a lot of respect for, and who I link to a lot was fired by Microsoft yesterday for posting something…
October 28th, 2003 at 11:08 am
How G5s can make oyu unemployed…
… or at least technically unemployed, as Michael says. Now, we all know, we need to help a fellow Apple geek in need, and if he’s being fired by the Evil Empire itself, for an act of Apple Geekdom, then…
October 28th, 2003 at 11:29 am
When Microsoft Attacks, Part 2
I don’t expect to get fired for this picture. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would. Microsoft sucks.
October 28th, 2003 at 3:09 pm
I am sure apple would love to hear your story and they’d probably offer you a job. Good luck with finding new work. Sorry you had to go through this.
October 28th, 2003 at 8:33 pm
Picture Pages
I don’t wander around the TypePad community too much, so this evening I decided to get out and see some sites. Here’s some of my findings, complete with links to photos: a sign that reads “Spitting… is Unlawful… Offenders are
October 28th, 2003 at 8:36 pm
Why Did I Want to Be There?
I may have cried over the possibility of not working at Microsoft but through a local mailing list, I saw…
October 28th, 2003 at 9:37 pm
Wandering Around The Community
Unfortunately, I don’t wander around the TypePad community too much because I tend to forget about it. This evening, however, I decided to get out and see some sites, visit with some neighbors, and record a few of my findings
October 28th, 2003 at 10:21 pm
MS fired a guy for blogging?
October 28th, 2003 at 11:08 pm
You blog, then better ask your boss
Do you blog? And are you employed? Be careful your boss may not like what you blog, this guy got fired (read actual thread) because he wrote something on his blog that his company do not like. Similarly, better be careful with your blog content and fol…
October 28th, 2003 at 11:32 pm
Microsoft Fires Blogger
If we can trust what is written on the “Electrisim” weblog, Microsoft fired a blogger for posting a picture of a shipment of Macs arriving at the Microsoft headquarters: Even Microsoft wants G5s” href=”http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/2003/10/…
October 29th, 2003 at 12:48 am
Dear Microsoft
I always thought that wanting to work for you would be nifty, however after reading this i’ve decided that my uber nifty idea’s and conceptual brilliance will no longer be allowed into your life sucking corportation. seriously guys, some of…
October 29th, 2003 at 2:02 am
That sucks man, good luck in the future
October 29th, 2003 at 5:47 am
I’ve seen several controversial blogs out there, but it really proves how respectable blogs are in the media.
See this Sparkpod blog http://www.sparkpod.com/lesbians
October 29th, 2003 at 5:54 am
Can you sue them (your employee)? If they are going to do this do you for such a stupid reason, might as well get the best of it. Can such reason for dismisal be legal?
October 29th, 2003 at 5:54 am
Microsoft Temp fired for blogging about Macs.
Seems that Micro$haft doesn’t want word to get out that they just scored a nice big pallet of 2.0Ghz G5s. They are so intent on this, it seems, that if you happen to be a temp working there, and you…
October 29th, 2003 at 6:02 am
Microsoft Fires over a Blog
This is pretty upsetting. Microsoft fired an individual over this post on his blog. Microsoft says it’s a security violation. Which is Gates-speak for embarassing Apple’s at Microsoft….
October 29th, 2003 at 6:05 am
Jeez, I can’t see their problem. Of course MS is going to be buying G5s. They still develop applications for the Mac so they’d kinda need some Macs to at least test things on. It’s not like they’re switching or anything.
October 29th, 2003 at 6:12 am
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS OFFENSIVE TO MS ABOUT THIS BLOG? This is the silliest thing I have every heard. As others have said MS would need G5’s to develop on, and maybe use them for publishing Quark or something - I dunno. But to fire you? My heart goes out to you and I hope you quickly find gainful employment!
October 29th, 2003 at 6:14 am
What were you doing with a camera at work? Most places (I’m sure its so at MS) definately view that as a no no.
October 29th, 2003 at 6:17 am
You are NOT supposed to take any pictures or even carry a camera in any company. Now this guy took this picture and expects not to get fired??? What the heck is your problem guys?!! Is it because it happened in your favorite company?
October 29th, 2003 at 6:19 am
Don’t Blog about Microsoft
Obligatory Link Love
October 29th, 2003 at 6:23 am
Just wondering if this makes you a mac user if your not already, if so welcome, and f microsoft!
October 29th, 2003 at 6:31 am
As another employee who has been fired for blogging, I feel your pain. Though mine was much more…stupid, I can still relate. One thing you’ll be able to count on is the support of your community.
Regards, adam
October 29th, 2003 at 6:35 am
Typical macintosh fanatard. Way to go.
October 29th, 2003 at 6:40 am
Rob, Im afraid you are overlooking the fact that most mobile phones in this day-and-age infact contain those evil camera thingys…
Good luck with finding a new job - hope you get better luck this time, and dont end up slaving for another micro$haft.
October 29th, 2003 at 6:54 am
I’m sure with the exposure on /. that you’ll find a another job soon! I thought Microsoft wrote software for the Mac, so it’s quite likely that they’d have a bunch of Macs sitting around or on order. It’s not like you snapped a picture of a pallet of RedHat 9 boxes! Good luck!
October 29th, 2003 at 6:57 am
Chin up—you can always sell penis enlargement pills!
October 29th, 2003 at 7:01 am
Blogging can get you fired
This blog entry was the reason Michael got fired. And to be honest I can even understand Microsoft in part for their reaction. No company would want you blogging “sensitive” stuff like that. At the same time it is an…
October 29th, 2003 at 7:04 am
The Working Mac Manifesto
The tech economy has been bruised for years now. With as many tech - and Mac people looking for jobs, it’s worth noting that we are our greatest asset. Follow me here… I work for Career Services at a state…
October 29th, 2003 at 7:06 am
The reason they fired you is that you weee a temporary employee and could have been fired without much trouble. Had you been a permanent employee, your offer of taking down the post would have been taken.
The logic being along the lines of “There’s enough negative publicity associated with our actions. If anybody’s action results in more negative publicity (especially true because of the title), and he’s on our payroll, we better find out how easy it is to fire him. … (Later) oh! he’s a temp and he creates a negative publicity for us … easier to fire him than for us to face our superior.”
I’m pretty sure most companies will take similar action against temp employees.
Bottomline - You are a temp. speak only as much as is necessary.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:06 am
Another Blog Related Firing
“Microsoft has the right to decide that because of what you said, you’re no longer welcome on the Microsoft campus.”
October 29th, 2003 at 7:07 am
“You are NOT supposed to take any pictures or even carry a camera in any company” !! Since when? That could be reasonable in military facilities perhaps but not in a company unless it is explicitly displayed.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:08 am
It looks more like a disgruntled colleague stabbing you in the back, given that the blog was not on an office server. Regarding using digi cameras at work, here in UK a lot of employees got an MMS phone and grabbing a pic during work to show to friends is commonly acceptable. Shame on Microsoft for being so foolish. Hope you find new work soon. Good luck
October 29th, 2003 at 7:09 am
Why in the hell would Microsoft be upset about this? Like others have said - of COURSE they buy Macs. They write Mac software! Hello!?!? Office v.X anyone? It’s no secret that MS has Macs, and that they have a stake (ie they have stock, it was in the news a few years ago…) in Apple.
I personally would be driven to find out why this offended Microsoft. Best of luck to you in these times.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:14 am
You pussies! What’s with the ‘careful what you post/say/do’ comments? I will be absoulutely sure to doom your lame-ass writings to the trash. Why bother reading a blog (or writing one, for that matter) if you’re going to avoid subjects for fear of reprisal?
As to this picture/one-liner that got an intern fired - it sucks, but you probably could’ve expected it from any computer company. If Apple was getting a delivery of Windows XP and you spread it around, good ‘ol Steve would probably shit his pants, then fire you.
Ironically signed, Anon. (for fear of reprisal)
October 29th, 2003 at 7:16 am
Another Blog-related Firing
“Microsoft has the right to decide that because of what you said, you’re no longer welcome on the Microsoft campus.”
October 29th, 2003 at 7:17 am
Another Blog Related Firing
“Microsoft has the right to decide that because of what you said, you’re no longer welcome on the Microsoft campus.”
October 29th, 2003 at 7:26 am
I’m sorry you got fired dude but you screwed up. I totally understand Microsoft’s point of view. If it were my company I would have dismissed you as well. I don’t need my employees risking my competitiveness by publishing unauthorized photographs and information about R&D and future product.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:28 am
MS Blogger Gets The Boot
A blogger and Microsoft got himself fired for posting pictures of Even Microsoft wants G5s” href=”http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/2003/10/even_microsoft_.html”>a shipment of Mac G5s…
October 29th, 2003 at 7:28 am
It’s how you say it
Do you talk about work on your blog? Careful….
October 29th, 2003 at 7:29 am
It sucks that you got booted but the truth is, they had every right to do it!
Can you honestly sit there and think that someone at MS wasn’t going to get a little upset about you broadcasting to the entire world that they are buying Mac hardware? All employees have to consider what the company may consider confidential information. Them buying a competitor’s product would definitely count as one of those, or so I would think.
I don’t work for MS and yeah there is the case of free speech but I don’t think you considered the consequences of what you were doing. I blog about my work all the time but I don’t reveal anything to the world that might be considered confidential.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:29 am
One Blog, No Job
Michael’s Blog entry about an M$ offices new purchases, unfortunatly got him fired. Watch what you blog, if you want to keep your job….
October 29th, 2003 at 7:30 am
Another shining example that shows Microshaft is run by a bunch of idiots. Who gives a **** that he took a picture of some Apple boxes! Get over it Redmond.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:33 am
MS should have had the G5’s shipped in non-discreet boxes
October 29th, 2003 at 7:33 am
Good ol’ Microsoft. Best of luck man.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:36 am
Microsoft orders G5’s, fires guy who photographs it
This guy took a picture of a couple of pallettes of Apple G5’s being unloaded at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond. Four days later he was fired for “security violations”. I really feel bad for this guy as Microsoft offered him…
October 29th, 2003 at 7:37 am
Im glad youdid the right thing, why would you want to work at microsoft anyway?
October 29th, 2003 at 7:38 am
If I was bill I would buy Sun’s, run some linux boxes, why not a couple apple’s .. have to see what the competetion is doing. Getting fired over a photo is a little over the edge. Good luck, wish I had a job to offer you.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:40 am
Yeah, I can see them doing it. I imagine they have a software testing lab where they need every machine possible to test on. That is part of the debugging process. Could be a reward for the guys (and gals!) at the MBU. I’m really sorry you got fired, but if I were your boss I might have had to also. Don’t worry, you will be OK.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:41 am
That photo is just dying to appear on a t-shirt.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:47 am
Somehow I Don’t Think This Is Going To Secure Anything
I know that this poor bastard has already received more than his fair share of attention from the monster than…
October 29th, 2003 at 7:49 am
Microsoft lays down the law
A guy posts a photo of G5’s being delivered to Microsoft. Guy is a Microsoft employee. Guy gets fired. Stupid Microsoft.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:50 am
Those slagging M$ now will of course remember Apple did more or less the same a while ago, firing an Apple Store employee for having a screenshot of some application Apple uses for customer management, buried in a webserver directory
http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/topic/19575-1.html
http://virga-x.adtn.net/screenshots/Apple%20Internal/
October 29th, 2003 at 7:51 am
maybe you could get a job with the company who shipped the G5’s to MS. Maybe as a quality control officer? Probably a waste of your talent i know, but if things get tight?
October 29th, 2003 at 7:52 am
Seattle’s crime of the week
Writing and postingeclecticism >thislast week resulted in eclecticism >this this week for Michael Hanscom who, seemingly, now rates as a major security threat over at Gates Central. Stupid for them; sad for him….
October 29th, 2003 at 7:53 am
Quote: You are NOT supposed to take any pictures or even carry a camera in any company.
If you think that absurd comment is actually even remotely true then your a prize muppet of the highest order.
And, as you apparently, can’t see what the fuss is over…
It’s so objectionable because its just trivial nonsense over a non-event.
It’s well known that of course Microsoft has PowerPC systems (how else would they write all the Mac OS software they do?). So the secrecy on that topic isn’t an issue.
Somehow I can’t see this head line: ‘Burger King worker takes a picture of a McDonalds Milkshake in a Burger King car park, post it on his homepage, gets fired.’.
He didn’t in any way portray his employees in a bad light and their is no breach of security here. He stated MSCopy building is near the Goods Delivery building (something that someone in Security objected to, according to the blog) but that blissfully ignores the fact that the buildings are going to be clearly sign posted in particular the Goods Delivery Area (and it really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work that one out).
There are no legitimate concerns here that warrant firing an employee, just a trumped up power tripper in Security/HR/middle management with nothing better to do than callously harm in the lives of others - all they have succeeded in doing is making the world just a little gloomier.
I can’t think the mother of the person responsible for firing this hapless employee would be proud of their offspring’s achievements that day - and the same goes for those involved who stood by and let it happen. I think the middle manager who stood for this and failed to stand up for his (even temporary) employee is spineless wonder and ought to be ashamed of themselves. We are always telling our children to stand up against decisions we think are wrong and unjust, it’s sad that we as adults seldom practice what we preach.
Like many things in life, it happened because other people are afraid to stick their necks out and say ‘No, wait a minute, that’s not fair.’ and put their foot down.
What’s happened to this employee is clearly not right, if your in any doubt (if for some reason you’ve lost the ability to tell ‘right’ from ‘wrong’) then just ask your mother, because she apparently has some unwished work left with regard to teaching you the basics…
October 29th, 2003 at 7:53 am
“Rob, Im afraid you are overlooking the fact that most mobile phones in this day-and-age infact contain those *evil camera thingys” - yes, but this is one reason why there are a growing number of buildings (especially government) that require you to check your celphone at the door, unless it a) has no built-in camera, and b) has no attachment point for a camera. Seriously. People do give security a high level of importance, especially at larger companies. Besides, having shown a propensity for taking random pictures, even if this one was innocuous, how does MSFT know that the next one won’t have some more secure detail, maybe even in the background? It has nothing to do with the G5s, and everything to do with the camera.
October 29th, 2003 at 7:54 am
Do they even care about technology anymore?
What. The. Fuck? There’s two things in the last 48 hours that have really bothered me. They should bother everyone else too. This effects technology to the highest level. “The GPL violates the U.S. Constitution, together with copyright, antitrust and…
October 29th, 2003 at 7:58 am
Even Microsoft wants G5s
If you have a job for Michael Hanscom let him know. Michael was fired from Microsoft recently for posting a picture on his blog of 3 palettes of dual 2 Ghz Apple G5s as they were being delivered to the…
October 29th, 2003 at 7:59 am
Microsoft buys Apples, sacks employee who blogged it
Who says bloggers don’t get results? In this case, it wasn’t what the blogger anticipated, that’s for sure. Said blogger snapped a photo of a truck of dual 2 Ghz PowerMac G5s being unloaded at one of Microsoft’s facilities. Microsoft…
October 29th, 2003 at 8:00 am
You asked for it, man. I dont know of a big company that allows snaps like that. Besides, MS wasnt your employer if you are a temp. Wake up! Temps are considered disposable employees. Didnt you know that? Its ugly, but thats how companies look at them. You should have jumped on as a full timer when MS was switching a lot of temps over to full time.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:02 am
G5 pix gets Michael fired
Watch what you blog. Michael Hanscom (eclecticism weblog) lost his job at Microsoft because of this post: Even Microsoft wants G5s That sucks. Good luck Michael….
October 29th, 2003 at 8:04 am
John, While it is true that Microsoft has a booming Macintosh software division, all of their Macintosh development is done in San Francisco, at their “Mac Business Unit”, as it is called. It seems notable to me that 18 G5s have arrived in Redmond. Companies also like to keep their hands close to their chest, and they depend on their employees (temp or not) to do that. If some employee was wandering around Apple with a phonecam posting pictures of interesting things to the web, s/he wouldn’t last 5 minutes.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:04 am
Watch What You Blog About
Poor Microsoft temp employee gets fired for posting a picture in his blog of new Apple G5s being unloaded somewhere in the Redmond campus. [via PhilMUG]…
October 29th, 2003 at 8:04 am
Microsoft is a bunch of shit-sucking pig fucker nazi assholes. Fuck them.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:05 am
Microsoft Cans Pix Posting Blogger
I’m willing to bet folding money that within a year we’ll be hearing a Gates Keynote, at any one of the bazillion conferences onliners feel compelled to attend, about how essential blogging is to the “Microsoft Way.” Then we’ll have a BillBlog to show…
October 29th, 2003 at 8:06 am
You deserve to be fired you stupid fuck! If I posted photos that contravined my contract my employer would rightfully do the same thing. Besides.. why wouldn’t MS want MACS? They need them for testing, at the very least.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:09 am
Sounds like M$ all right. If they made such a big deal about the blog, it obviously has some merit… M$ wants to be sure word doesn’t get out about the fact that even they know Macs are so much more superior than any joke of a Xerox-OS they can release… They obviously have no ability to create anything original (just look at the overly slowly developing Longhorn). Their nifty new feature set looks like they took Apple’s patented technologies, and then created new names for them and stuck it into their own box. Just look into their “pile” method of managing documents on the hard drive. It’s like that PC M$ helped design with HP (I think it was)… All the original features of that machine either come from already existing Mac technology, or from Apple patents… M$ must have Apple patents as a subscription. As soon as Apple files a new one, M$ gets it and immediately begins adding it to their system…
October 29th, 2003 at 8:11 am
Bring on the firings…
Even Microsoft wants G5s” href=”http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/2003/10/even_microsoft_.html”>Even Microsoft wants G5s….but being a Microsoft employee and letting the so-called cat out of the bag on the Internet is not a good idea….
October 29th, 2003 at 8:14 am
KMFDM woo
October 29th, 2003 at 8:16 am
Attention all: Don’t take pictures of your workplace. This goes for anywhere you work. — tom7.org
October 29th, 2003 at 8:16 am
Only in America…..
October 29th, 2003 at 8:19 am
Blogger Burned
A blogger who worked for Microsoft just got fired because he took a picture of some Macintosh G5’s at Microsoft and posted them on his blog. His blog is a private one, but here’s a case where employers will burn…
October 29th, 2003 at 8:20 am
Don’t worry dude, you weren’t exactly hanging with the smartest crowd on the planet, even though 95% of planet Earth seems to think otherwise. I friend of mine got hired by Microsoft last year, nice guy and all that, but a grade one ass licker, only does what he’s told. Definitely not the kind of person I’d want to employ.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:21 am
Sacked By The Borg
Microshaft has sacked a temp employee over a blog post that frankly doesn’t say much other than: Three palettes of Dual 2.0Ghz G5’s on their way in to somewhere deep in the bowels of Redmond. Hmm. Is Microsoft trying to…
October 29th, 2003 at 8:31 am
Hey! You are a temp worker! Who cares? Layoff my ass, you were let go; it’s not like they owe you any loyalty for all your temp work.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:32 am
Ya know the thing is, now more peeps will know about MS’s Macs than if they would have just shut up. Stupid.
America runs on FEAR!
October 29th, 2003 at 8:32 am
You undermined your employer. Now live withthe consequences.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:34 am
Taking pictures of inside company shipments and posting them would get you fired from anywhere. I feel sorry for you as I have been fired from a job myself, it hurts. I think this has less to do with Microsoft worrying about buying a few Macs (much to the wish of ‘anti Microsoft’ folk, they already own Mac for fucks sakes) and more to do with inside company inventory and inside confidential information being posted on the web. Think about this and take it as lesson not to do something quite this stupid again.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:40 am
joe blow, i think you have hit the nail on the head
October 29th, 2003 at 8:43 am
I posted this elsehwere, but I’ll post it here.
I don’t like Microsoft in general. I don’t like their practices, ethics, many policies, etc. However, while I agree that the action appears excessive, I do defend Microsoft’s right (really any corporate entities right) to protect itself (security and other).
The fact of the matter is, eclecticism was not sensitive to what is allowed by the company with which he was employed. He exercised poor judgement and unfortunately, it was costly. I expect he will learn from that practice. In the future, he should actively determine what is allowable by the company and then use that as a guage for posting on his own blog.
As we have personal privacy so do corporations. Think about that.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:44 am
Bill Buys a G5
Nothing shocking here as M$ does develop software for Macs so they would have to have them around - but it is kind of funny to see a whole pallet of them - and what’s sad is the employee who…
October 29th, 2003 at 8:45 am
And as for those that are talking about MS not wanting anyone to know they have Mac, I ask you, how much of Apple does Microsoft own? Please, let’s be serious about why someone would be fired for doing this.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:48 am
Such a massive secret u let out of the bag!!!
Did you sign a non-disclosure aggrement??? Was there any sort of visible ‘No cameras’ allowed sign anywhere?? I would think most people would not have expected such a despicable reaction.
This sucks. US and UK employment laws are so shit, the very fact that you where a temp worker with no rights is harsh. I fear for humanity as a whole. You people above who have defended MS actions, you must love your companies soooo much. I will piss myself with laughter when they abuse you.
October 29th, 2003 at 8:54 am
Mind what you blog - It could cost you a job.
This sucks. Who gives a damn if M$ buy some decent mac’s? You really don’t think that those manuals and books are typeset in Word do you???!?!?!?…
October 29th, 2003 at 9:01 am
If I has posted unauthorised pictures and information about a company I had worked for I would expect disciplinary action. Sorry but you really do deserve it. This is the way of the real, professional working world in IT. I dislike most Microsoft products as much as the next man but these pictures are embarressing to your previous employer and probably violating the contract you worked under. Oops. Good luck with the job hunt.
October 29th, 2003 at 9:02 am
Whispered secrets
Doyce recounts the story of some copy shop guy at the Micro$oft campus who was fired for posting a picture…
October 29th, 2003 at 9:02 am
MS kicks employee because of blog post
I just found out via Robert Accettura’s weblog that Michael Hanscom, a Microsoft employee, has been fired because of a humorous and innocent post about Microsoft buying some Mac computers. What on earth is wrong with Microsoft? If they find…
October 29th, 2003 at 9:04 am
Being fired by Microsoft for one picture, is it true ?
October 29th, 2003 at 9:05 am
i think its funny microsoft needs apple’s you should get that shit in the newspapers im only sorry 4 Michael
October 29th, 2003 at 9:06 am
Microsoft’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment
A Former Microsoft Employee has been terminated for taking a picture of 3 pallets of G5’s entering the Microsoft Compounds in Redmond and posting those photos on his blog. Gee, I don’t think Microsoft wanted it known that they were buying a truckload …
October 29th, 2003 at 9:08 am
You people are ridiculous. Look at the facts here. ANY company (yes, ANY company) would have fired a temp employee (and given a full-time employee a damn strong warning) for photographing company property/goings-on behind the scenes and blogging the photo without permission. If you don’t believe that, and if you have a job, just ask someone in your HR department about what happened here and see what would happen at your company. Cry about the injustice of it if you want, but it’s reality. If it was your company and you had some temp jackass taking pictures behind the scenes and posting them on the web without your permission, what would you do? You’d walk his ass out the door like they did. Regardless of this photo in particular being harmless (everyone knows that MS owns Macs), what he did illustrates a severe lack of judgement (read as — if he did this without permission, what else will he do without permission). Hell, he even mentioned his company’s name, which implies some sort of endorsement for the post. Go on and cry about this being another example of big bad MS, but they did what any other company would do. Some lessons in life are learned the hard way. Hopefully, this guy learned his lesson and next time, he will leave his damn camera at home and focus on doing his job.
October 29th, 2003 at 9:15 am
Michael Hanscom story
October 29th, 2003 at 9:18 am
So here is what comes to mind. Why would Microsoft Want to hide the fact that they bought G5’s. Microsoft Makes does software for the macs, aka OFFICE. What, are they going to test apple software on a PC????? That is just gay all around. If make software for apple you need apple computers to test it on … simple and easy.
Microsoft is lame if they fired him.
October 29th, 2003 at 9:19 am
As trivial as these photos are, it can easily be considered industrial espionage.
For Bobby T. and other religious fanatics, Xerox (parc) invented many many many things (gui ,event drive programming) and gave them to Apple (and the rest of the world). MS did not steal the ideas from Apple, it took what was freely available. Trademarking the generic “windows” term was a dirty trick though.
Never forget the MS is the one who bailed Apple out when they were going under.
October 29th, 2003 at 9:24 am
Blogs Speak Louder Than Words
A very interesting event in the world of Blogs. The blog Electicism is run by an employee of Microsoft, and he blogged a photograph of some boxes of Apple Computer’s new Dual 2.0 Ghz G5 Power Macs. Needless to say, in matter of 4 days, he was no lon…
October 29th, 2003 at 9:27 am
Be carefull about what you blog. Microsoft will fire you!
Microsoft fired an individual over a post on his blog. Microsoft Security saw the post as being a security violation….
October 29th, 2003 at 9:28 am
Fired for blogging?
http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/2003/10/even_microsoft_.html After blogging this entry, a guy was fired from his job at Microsoft, apparantly they didn’t like the fact he gave away information about locations and buildings at MS, not that the…
October 29th, 2003 at 9:33 am
SOLIDARITY!!! Rise up my fellow workers! Rise up! You have nothing to loose but your chains!
I’m taking the FISH… Who’s with me!?
October 29th, 2003 at 9:34 am
Good luck, hope you find a better job. Seems like M$ doesn’t understand even a little bit of humor (think even at Apple they have some Windoz-machines). Greetings from Hamburg Germany and best wishes for future (you did right man!) … Tice ; )
October 29th, 2003 at 9:39 am
Sure, everyone involved was within their rights to take the actions taken. Microsoft’s actions are still kind of suprising because those actions turn a non-event into unfavorable news.
Gasp! Microsoft might actually have a Macintosh in use! No way! … Yeh, right. We’re supposed to believe they’re so talented that they can develop and test software for Macintosh without actually having Macs?
Microsoft markets software to provide Windows connectivity to Unix platforms too. It wouldn’t even be news to me if Microsoft had to move their IBM mainframe and a stack of Solaris boxes to make room for the Macs. In recent months Microsoft even stated they were setting up a lab to evaluate Linux.
So what’s the news here? “Heavy handed Microsoft fires employee.”
October 29th, 2003 at 9:40 am
“While it is true that Microsoft has a booming Macintosh software division, all of their Macintosh development is done in San Francisco, at their “Mac Business Unit”, as it is called. It seems notable to me that 18 G5s have arrived in Redmond.”
Perhaps MS has tech support for their Mac software in Redmond. Or perhaps the tech writers who write the manuals for Office v.X are there.
October 29th, 2003 at 9:43 am
one bad apple ruins the bunch
so macs are having a general bad effect on a lot of things lately. this guy was just sacked for posting about how he saw a shipment of G5’s being dropped off at his microsoft location. when will the horrors…
October 29th, 2003 at 9:45 am
I worked there for a while. Someone that was interviewing for a job blogged about what a “stupid asshole” her boss was, his boss was “a fucking bitch”, and everyone else (including HR) were idiots. She got the job, but she continued to complain about specific details every day. They finally found the blog, and yes, she was fired… and I don’t think many people would argue with that.
I dislike MS probably more than most Mac users because I have five years of reasons. However, they aren’t any different than most companies. If you publicly mention anything that happens on the job, it can be grounds for termination.
You boss probably would not have fired you. Since he mentioned the official “security” word and phrases like “not welcome”, chances are he was getting pressure from above.
Just remember that when it comes to business, whether it is a boss, coworker, company, temp agency, whatever, nobody is your friend… and I wouldn’t be surprised if you have problems getting jobs in the future because of these blog entries.
October 29th, 2003 at 9:50 am
Was the firing over the mention of M$ having G5’s or the posting of an image from the campus? When I worked at Apple, they had a very strict “no photo” rule. And what about that other pallet of G5’s that arrived at Bill Gates house?
October 29th, 2003 at 9:54 am
Lets face it though , You dont want to work for a company that are such bastards to their staff anyway.
October 29th, 2003 at 9:57 am
Unbelievable!!
This guy was FIRED for blogging about the G5’s he saw being delivered….well microsoft guess what now its ALL OVER…
October 29th, 2003 at 10:04 am
Apple should hire you
October 29th, 2003 at 10:05 am
Releasing that information for the public is not the right of the blogger. If was the right of Microsoft. It would be like your girlfriend showing your mom your porn collection. It is not their concern. Why is it when linux users infringe on the rights of Micro$oft, Micro$oft is the a-hole, but when M$ ask for you to register a product to protect their OWN intellectual property, the linux nerds take up their torches… Linux users are arrogant and have a double standard. If you had AIDS do you think it is the responsibility of your employer to tell its employees?
October 29th, 2003 at 10:11 am
M$ sells about a $billion worth of Mac software… they’re not going to jeopardize that much money… they WANT MS Mac software to work and work good… With the open source Office suites getting better and better they have reason to sweat…
October 29th, 2003 at 10:19 am
If you get a chance, can you reveal what that graffiti painted on the loading dock says? Looks like “FREE REDMOND” maybe?
October 29th, 2003 at 10:23 am
microsoft dont have the rights to do that, isnt wrong! damn, they suck.
October 29th, 2003 at 10:27 am
the slashdot crowd awaits!
October 29th, 2003 at 10:42 am
Heh, Mircosoft lost a Huge PR opportunity here. They could have milked the “Hey, we play nice with our competitors!” Edge. In this day of massive lawsuits and enourmously bad PR, such as DRM and viri scurring about the Windows world, Microsoft needs all the help they can get with the public.
Of course, we are talking about Microsoft here…
October 29th, 2003 at 10:42 am
SOLIDARTY! Rise up my fellow wrokers! You have nothing to loose but your chains!
October 29th, 2003 at 10:47 am
Gulp!
Michael Hanscom has a blog where he great picture of some PowerMac G5s being delivered to his employer, Microsoft. Seems…
October 29th, 2003 at 10:47 am
Did they have a justification to let him go? Sure. How good of one is debatable. Did they have the right to let him go? Sure. Could he have seen it coming - well certainly he should have seen trouble as a possibility.
But I ask - was it SMART for them to fire him? His boss acknowledged his right to do what he did and called it “unfortunate” that they had decided to fire him over it, and asked whether he could make ammends by taking down the posting. So it seems he was a decent employee and his boss wasn’t looking to get rid of him. So, they incur the cost of restaffing, training, and the lost productivity of the learning curve. Because they offer no justification to take the posting down, even if it does indeed represent a “security violation,” (and I find it pretty difficult to believe that the relevant pieces of information - that Microsoft buys Macs and that MSCopy is in the same building as MS’s shipping and receiving, represent particularly sensitive or secret information) their action guarantee that the information will STAY out there on the internet, and in fact gain more noteriety (I surfed in from Metafilter) because now it is not just, oh funny, stacs o’ Macs at Redmond, it’s ooh, the Evil Empire fired a blogger! They could have made a deal - we think this is a security issue, here’s why, if you want to keep your job take it down, and allow us to ask anyone reprinting it to take it down since they would by definition be doing it without his permission. He keeps his job, Microsoft keeps a good employee, and the “security issue” is taken care of as best as it, at this point, can be. So. was it that they didn’t really care about the security thing, but are so bound by their own rules that they can’t make the more intelligent play in this kind of situation? Or is it that it really was just the “we perceive this as a dig against Microsoft, so trump up a security violation and fire him? (If so another misfire, see the issue of greater publicity above). Or are they too stupid to see that it WASN’T malicious, that any chance of eliminating security issues lay in being flexible, and that firing him could only cost them resources for no gain? Sounds pretty stupid to me.
October 29th, 2003 at 10:52 am
That’s quite right Ed. If you work for a corporation you should expect to be screwed at random… BUT, it is hard to see why Microsoft would want to deny that it purchased a few G5s given that they write software for these machines.
Also, any corporation does “opposition research”… who would be surprised by that?
A rational organization would simply point this fact out.
But when you work for a large corporation you are not likely to be working for a rational organization… it’s hire and fire at will. Get used to it.
October 29th, 2003 at 10:52 am
Sorry but….DUH….what the hell did you expect?
October 29th, 2003 at 10:54 am
I dunno if anyone forgot, but Microsoft is located in what country? Under what laws are both Microsoft and this former employee protected? Although it isn’t advisable to photograph things within the confines of your employer’s campus, unless a specific “no picture” edict was issued I doubt they’d have a legal leg to stand on. Because he didn’t photograph anything but the inside of a delivery truck (for this particular page) it doesn’t even seem that it would be comprehensively covered under a law banning sharing of trade secrets or other similar nonsense. Although I’m no lawyer, you should collect unemployment if possible and screw them the legal way—if you don’t want reinstated. If you DO, then talk to a qualified attorney if you haven’t already…
October 29th, 2003 at 10:56 am
I don’t understand why there is such an outrage for MS’s actions? If you think MS shouldn’t have fired him then at what point to you draw the line about what you can take pictures of or release to the public? Employees do not know the reason behind every event or action within a company. What appears to be a harmless picture could in fact be exposing a particular business strategy or direction that is intended to be kept secret (though I doubt Microsoft direction here was “towards” Apple). The contract a person signs when hired binding them to keep company activities secret is there for a reason—everyone can assume a level of confidentiality that permits work to be done without unecessary security checks. Microsoft had to set a precedent or the gray area that would exist allowing employees to take pictures of whatever they wanted. By the way, I’m willing to be there is a no-disclosure agreement somewhere in his work contract (temp or full-time) restricting what he can say (with pictures, words, etc) about the activities of Microsoft. I’m also willing to bet taking pictures and presenting them on the web in the manner he did falls under prohibited behavior.
October 29th, 2003 at 10:57 am
Mac Fan Gets Fired from Micro$oft
It appears that this guy was fired for posting photos of Apple G5s being shipped into the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond. I feel his pain….
October 29th, 2003 at 10:59 am
I guess it depends on if Michael signed an NDA or was advised of the restriction on workplace photography. If he did, then he knew what he was doing was wrong. If he didn’t, then Microsoft has no grounds for dismissal based on a single incident, unless they can prove intent to cause material harm or corporate espionage, etc. - which I think any reasonable judge would throw out on its ear. (On the other hand, if you can, why not sue ‘em for wrongful dismissal?)
What’s more worrying to me is that Microsoft obviously has their own version of Echelon or something out there, monitoring all employee activities online whether at work or at home. I realize the software biz is competitive, and Microsoft didn’t get to be king of the hill by playing nice, but there are some serious ethical considerations here. Seriously, though, who does it harm to show some G5s arriving at Microsoft? Apple develops for Windows (Quicktime, iTunes, iPod, AppleWorks, FileMaker, WebObjects, to name a few) and Microsoft develops for Mac (WMP, Office, hardware peripherals, IE, VirtualPC which was acquired from Connectix, etc.) so it makes sense they’d have some for compatibility testing at least!
October 29th, 2003 at 11:00 am
Microsoft sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 29th, 2003 at 11:01 am
This is why I turned Microsoft down when I was approached by them. I use their software but I am more partial to any form of Unix(TM) for many objective reasons. They (Microsoft) simply need to grow up.
Good luck.
-Chuck
October 29th, 2003 at 11:01 am
Even MS wants G5s and they don’t want you to know about
Which is why they fired a blogger for posting a picture of a shipment of G5s at his workplace, Microsoft. Conspiracy theories aside, it is a little funny, but I don’t entirely blame them for firing someone for posting unauthorized…
October 29th, 2003 at 11:02 am
an Apple geek that work for Microsoft and has a server on a GNU/Linux box… good mix
you will easily find a new job thanks to slashdot
October 29th, 2003 at 11:06 am
Hye even we need paperweights
October 29th, 2003 at 11:11 am
They’ve truly made a martyr out of you. In all honesty the picture really isn’t that poignant. It doesn’t show “MS HQ” in big bold letters or anything so it’s not like it could turn into a huge email chain letter or something. Taken outside of your blog, one could speculate it could’ve been shot behind an office depot or something.
October 29th, 2003 at 11:12 am
Just one more reason my views of M$ seem more justified. Good luck in your job hunt. What a crappy reason to let someone go. M$ Hiding behind G4’s and Linux servers….. LOL
Thanks for the story… it was awesome, sorry it cost you your job though.
October 29th, 2003 at 11:14 am
Hey you,
the responsible people for that kickass action at Microsoft …
Why you don’t go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself?
These were only pictures. Everybody in the whole world knows, that you are using Macs.
October 29th, 2003 at 11:19 am
Think First, Blog Second
Recently a couple of bloggers have discovered the unintended consequences of blogging. Greg Easterbrook made some comments regarding the favored religion of the heads of Disney and Viacom. He gets to keep his job with The New Republic, but his…
October 29th, 2003 at 11:21 am
Microsoft has every right to fire this guy, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Microsoft is a predatory monster that also happens to be as hypocritical as they come.
October 29th, 2003 at 11:30 am
This reminds me of a (reliably sourced) story of a guy who went in to get interviewed, thought it would be funny, when asked why he wanted to join the Corporation joked that he wanted to see what it was like to work for the “Evil Empire” & got in return stonefaced stares.
& regarding this incident, yes, someone shouldn’t go around taking pictures on company property but this is just one image, could easily have been taken down — & it seems to me to have much more to do with the attitude revealed in the Evil Empire anecdote than any rational policy. If you say anything even obviously in jest to criticize the Corp., they are through with you forever. (Readers of Franken’s latest book can compare this to the paranoid with-us-or-against-us attitude of Barbara Bush & perhaps various of her offspring.)
(Wow, great comment preview feature!)
October 29th, 2003 at 11:37 am
Bla, Bla, Bla… a Mac is Mac! Good luck for you…!
October 29th, 2003 at 11:40 am
There are many companies that allow no cameras or photography equipment on the premises. Seems Microsoft is one of them. Quite common. The young fellow was punished appropriately.
Remember this: Their game, their rules. Also “Don’t do stupid stuff”.
October 29th, 2003 at 11:48 am
Äläs poika kuvaa
Blogimerkinnästä työttömyyteen. Michael Hanscom työskenteli MSCopy:ssä (Microsoftin printtiputka) ja sai potkut julkaistuaan kuvan Microsoftille saapuvasta Apple G5 lähetyksestä. np. The Crystal Method - High Rol…
October 29th, 2003 at 11:51 am
Seems strange to fire over something like that.
And it’s not not like that buying Mac in any way should seems strange.
Any company ought to find out how the competitors are doing, to improve their own products.
Microsoft develops applications for use on Apples computers.
Microsoft owns a number of stocks in Apple, why not check the investment by testing the products?
October 29th, 2003 at 11:54 am
Five for Free Speech
Give Five for Free Speech to my friend Michael, who was fired without any method of appeal for posting a picture of the Microsoft Campus (and naming the building) on his blog. (follow link, and scr…
October 29th, 2003 at 12:00 pm
Don’t mention work…
Because even the most innocuous-seeming post might put your butt out on the street. The blogger linked above was fired when Microsoft found the post. They had every right to do so, of course. I’d bet they even have a…
October 29th, 2003 at 12:01 pm
Does this suck? Yes. Is Micro$oft the enormous, humorless corporate omnivore we all think it is? Yes. Is that the same M$ that was found guilty in 2000 of hiring a gazillion temps that were de facto permanent employees, then denying them benefits? Yes. (Google “Microsoft permatemp” - the settlement is still unpaid). Is this predictable given the paranoid environment of a corporations-world first we live in? Quite likely. Could the M$ managers have thought hard for about two seconds and avoided all this bad PR? Maybe. Could Michael have seen this coming? Probably (unfortunately).
That said, I wish you well in your job hunt. Remember, getting fired is just the opportunity to find a better job (was for me, anyway). ABSOLUTELY look beyond the temp agency - they’re fine for paying the bills, but not much for starting a career.
And actually, Aardvark, M$ doesn’t own ANY “amount of Apple” (I presume you mean voting stock). The $150 million investment from 1997 was non-voting (controlling) shares, was Does this suck? Yes. Is Micro$oft the enormous, humorless corporate omnivore we all think it is? Yes. Is that the same M$ that was found guilty in 2000 of hiring a gazillion temps that were de facto permanent employees, then denying them benefits? Yes. (Google “Microsoft permatemp” - the settlement is still unpaid). Is this predictable given the paranoid environment of a corporations-world first we live in? Quite likely. Could the M$ managers have thought hard for about two seconds and avoided all this bad PR? Maybe. Could Michael have seen this coming? Probably (unfortunately).
That said, I wish you well in your job hunt. Remember, getting fired is just the opportunity to find a better job (was for me, anyway). ABSOLUTELY look beyond the temp agency - they’re fine for paying the bills, but not much for starting a career.
And actually, Aardvark, M$ doesn’t own ANY “amount of Apple” (I presume you mean voting stock). The $150 million investment from 1997 was non-voting (controlling) shares, was Does this suck? Yes. Is Micro$oft the enormous, humorless corporate omnivore we all think it is? Yes. Is that the same M$ that was found guilty in 2000 of hiring a gazillion temps that were de facto permanent employees, then denying them benefits? Yes. (Google “Microsoft permatemp” - the settlement is still unpaid). Is this predictable given the paranoid environment of a corporations-world first we live in? Quite likely. Could the M$ managers have thought hard for about two seconds and avoided all this bad PR? Maybe. Could Michael have seen this coming? Probably (unfortunately).
That said, I wish you well in your job hunt. Remember, getting fired is just the opportunity to find a better job (was for me, anyway). ABSOLUTELY look beyond the temp agency - they’re fine for paying the bills, but not much for starting a career.
And actually, Aardvark, M$ doesn’t own ANY “amount of Apple” (I presume you mean voting stock). The $150 million investment from 1997 was non-voting (controlling) shares, was Does this suck? Yes. Is Micro$oft the enormous, humorless corporate omnivore we all think it is? Yes. Is that the same M$ that was found guilty in 2000 of hiring a gazillion temps that were de facto permanent employees, then denying them benefits? Yes. (Google “Microsoft permatemp” - the settlement is still unpaid). Is this predictable given the paranoid environment of a corporations-world first we live in? Quite likely. Could the M$ managers have thought hard for about two seconds and avoided all this bad PR? Maybe. Could Michael have seen this coming? Probably (unfortunately).
That said, I wish you well in your job hunt. Remember, getting fired is just the opportunity to find a better job (was for me, anyway). ABSOLUTELY look beyond the temp agency - they’re fine for paying the bills, but not much for starting a career.
And actually, Aardvark, M$ doesn’t own ANY “amount of Apple” (I presume you mean voting stock). The $150 million investment from 1997 was non-voting (controlling) shares, was <5% at the time, and has long since been bought back - at a healthy profit, I might add..
October 29th, 2003 at 12:02 pm
GET A 
October 29th, 2003 at 12:07 pm
Respect where it’s due. Nice One
Classic picture, Honest person.
October 29th, 2003 at 12:15 pm
Poindexter wrote:
We are all considered disposable employees. Don’t fool yourself into thinking otherwise.
October 29th, 2003 at 12:17 pm
Incluso Microsoft quiere G5s
Un empleado de MS ha sido despedido por tomar y publicar estas fotos en las que se ve como un camión descarga Apple G5 en el campus de MS….
October 29th, 2003 at 12:20 pm
Welcome to the (corporate beehive mentality) machine. Being out of work sucks. Not working for M$ or its ilk sounds pretty good, though. There is life beyond corporate enslavement. The trick seems to be to live a good life and a good working life.
October 29th, 2003 at 12:25 pm
That really sucks.
They must have wanted to get some real work done on an OS that does not contantly hang give you non-reponsive program errors all the time. I work on MS technologies all day an I spend a lot of time waiting for XP, Visual Studio , or some other MS app just to do what it is supposed too.
October 29th, 2003 at 12:29 pm
well WelcomeToTheRealWorld is right but Ed is also right Microsoft is lame if they fired him.
October 29th, 2003 at 12:36 pm
If you were in the military. You would be executed for treason. Consider yourself lucky.
October 29th, 2003 at 12:37 pm
Poor bugger
This poor bugger was working as a temp for Microshaft and noticed a delivery being made of a bunch of the latest Mac’s. He took a quick pic, posted a note and was fired the next day! Ouch! Good luck…
October 29th, 2003 at 12:38 pm
Nobody that can think or act in an independent fashion is welcome at Microsoft or Real or any of the companies that have used all of the technological marvels created by the ‘disposable’ generation of engineers to make themselves rich beyond comprehension. Here is what You must all understand…You are all replaceable right here in Your own country by cheap copies of american Engineering excellence from all over the planet. The lies these companies and the government have told and gotten away with to replace over 2.5 million american workers is the real story that is slowly coming out. You need to know and understand that censorship is the first and fastest way to control public opinion. fortunately it is too late for all of these companies because the truth is out and there is no stopping it now.
“The best weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed”…Steven Biko
http://www.complex-numbers.com
October 29th, 2003 at 12:38 pm
Anyone here think that Apple’s never looked at a Windoze box. Of course they have! It good business to see what your Competition has. It just business.
And, of course as an employee of a company its not smart to make fun of it in a public forum. Such an act is clearly disloyal and should result in Disciplinary Action.
October 29th, 2003 at 12:52 pm
I work for a rather large, rather blue computer company, and I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement before I began working stating that I would NOT BRING ANY CAMERAS on the site. They even have signs posted on the door. I’m sure it’s the same at Microsoft. Employers are sensitive to this because of a little term called “corporate espionage”.
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