[RANT] teach your sales staff how to use the internet

I first got into seriously looking at/being interested in/developing CMS
tools several years ago...back when the late, great CMS-list was very
active with lots of great people.

A problem that list had was the constant spam from vendors that had
commissioned sales staff that just couldn't grasp the concept that
people posting questions on a public mailing list were NOT asking every
salesperson to them spam them with their product's PDF brochure and 10
point bullet list. Fortunately, the cms-list had a pretty strict
policity and those folks were quickly culled from the list.

Well, this list isn't nearly as busy, but my one question posted today
generated 3 on-topic replies, but then also a couple of emails with the
old 'hey, buy our product!' schtick and one of the large CMS vendors
actually went out of their way to call me directly 'hey...I heard you
are interested in a CMS?'

ARGH!

Anyways, some advice to those of you that are CMS pros on here from a
lowly 'potential future customer'...your industry is still plaugued with
the stench of snake-oil sales techniques. If a person asks a question on
a public mailng list, the ONLY acceptable response is:

 - a reply to said list
 - a reply that actually pertains to the question asked

Anything else gets you dropped FAST from my list of companies I ever
want to talk to again.

(and no, this isn't directed at Boris...Boris actually replied to the
list so absolutely no hard feelings there.)

Anwyays, sorry for the rant. Have a great weekend everyone.

-Darrel