Microsoft's Jeff Bell gettin' feisty on message board?
By Darren Murph 
posted July 19th 2007 10:27AM
posted July 19th 2007 10:27AM
No doubt we've heard quite a few calumnies come out of the mouths of high-ranking company officials before (yes, even those at Microsoft), but this one takes things to a different level entirely. Just days after Peter Moore abruptly abandoned ship and swam elsewhere, it seems that frustrations are getting the best of the firm's VP of Global Marketing as well. According to a number of sleuths who used the "bell801" member name to link back to Mr. Bell, the executive actually private messaged a NeoGAF member who was "especially critical of Bell" during an E3 press conference and blurted out: "And your contribution to society is...what?" Yeah, that'll show 'em, Jeff.
Doesn't he look a lot like Sean Hayes?
Must be a slow news day...
Meh. I'll take Bell's side on this matter. Given that most forums are havens for belligerent fanboys who do little else than shoot their mouths off, I would say this person had it coming. Bell is every bit as human as well are, so why should he be exempt from having an ego?
In other news, Rosie O'Donnel is a big fat loud-mouth Lesbian. There..I said it! And I don't regret it!
I think what Bell did was kind of cool actually. They were beating him up pretty bad on the message boards and he sent a PM to a user who probably only sits on the internet all day and posts and gave him a taste of his own medicine. Cool in my book.
Not cool that the moderator released his private information used to sign up on the forum. That was a pretty big no-no. Also, who posts private messages?
I bet if you check out that forum they are probably criticizing Bell for not being civil and joining into the conversation politely when they won't do the same.
None of this, however, compares to Bruce Willis when he came out and flamed a kid a few months ago. That was awesome.
Is the Microsoft business model of "cool gaming cred at a cost of billions" finally starting to collapse?
Microsoft needs to stick with what it does (sorta) well: making an office application suite.
Microsoft also makes good hardware. Good mice and keyboards,and the Zune is actually pretty good if you give it a chance (if you don't mind the thing being an inch thick)...
That said, I still prefere my iPods and Mac :)
And this Engadget posting's contribution to society is...what?
hehe
Well his fault for messaging n00bs, no wonder blog nation jumps on the OMG-Train.
On the other hand it's still Bell. What is marketings contribution to society? No good.
What the fokk was the point of this news?
I kinda doubt that as a marketing executive Bell contributes anything that anyone would miss were he not here.
Where's the gadgets?
Where's the LOVE???
What an arrogant prick. Why does he assume that his position at Microsoft assumes he's contributed something to society other than draw a ridiculously inflated salary for a grossly unprofitable division?
And why does he assume the message board poster hasn't accomplished much? One never knows who they're talking to online, and it's best not to attack someone you don't know as unaccomplished before you've confirmed that.
are executives not allowed to participate in forum debate? at least he PM'd the guy.
Engaget, you should add the CE-Oh No He Didn't tag on this news.
Bell is not a CEO.
Bell is not a CEO. He has not contributed enough to society to be one yet.
Well, next time MS is asking for Beta Testers for their products, you ask them the same question too.
By the way, what is MS's contribution to the testers once the testing is done and the product is commercially released. Do you get a free and functional copy of their released product you helped them out with, at no cost to them?
@Rob
Good point. It's not like Microsoft relies on the consumer or anything...
"what is MS's contribution to the testers once the testing is done and the product is commercially released"
Actually, I've participated in several Microsoft product beta tests and have noticed they do tend to hand out the finished product to active beta testers.
Then again, it's supposed to be more along the lines of "we'll let you use our unfinished product for free, before it's released to everyone else, in return for your input."
Come on, it's not like they force it on you, they just offer it as an option.
actually beta testers of Vista Media Center got a free copy of Vista Ultimate for their feedback... so I dont think your comment is accurate.
This post is ghey.
Why the heck is a private message publicized? Shouldn't it be, well private. And who among us hasn't gone off on somebody on a message board? At least he did it in PM.
Somebody call a whaambulance for the "NeoGAF member" PM'ed.
@Rohit Kapur That's the very first thing I thought when I saw the picture. That'll be Sean in about 5 to 10.
Its funny how we sit here and do the same thing Bill did, while criticizing him of what he did.
I love hypocrites! (seriously, i'm not joking, i l-o-v-e them)
I'm loving this actually. The forum member made some comments abouts about an executive and the person in question found out about it and defended himself in a sarcastic and humorous way. I suppose all of the people deploring him have never ever made a comment like that when someone makes them mad? Yeah...that's what I thought...