//steve clayton: geek in disguise

There's two great overriding points to come out of that video:

1) People are talking about Microsoft positively. Previously, the only comments one would see were how big/bad/dominant MS were and how it was a bad thing for the world. I have noticed a change.

2) People are talking about Microsoft in new ways. Relevant subjects (by way of Hugh and The Blue Monster) is providing a platform for discussion that was previously unheard of.

Other than the recent open source blip, I see many, many more positive conversations about Microsoft which I believe would be further enhanced by a more coherent approach. Then again, like Hugh commented - as soon as there is an appearance of manufacturing about the concept, turning it into a product, people will likely get suspicious.

"Home-made" videos from micro-departments (like the recent Digital Advertising Group) are a great way to suggest an underground movement trying to do some good.

What would be great Steve, is if, as an addition to the Blue Monster, you required a currently unemployed digital marketeer and blogger to blog about all those exciting new alpha and beta tests that would also help boost the MS case! Further evidence of MS trying to do great things from small seeds is a great start...and help me pay the mortgage!

Is opening the Blue Monster out to the world a concept worth investigating?

Why not develop a 'Wee mee' style flash (sorry, Silverlight!) application (for download from my site only!!!) of the Blue Monster? Enable people to create a mash-up of the Blue Monster with "jigsaw-style" elements that allow people to create their very own Blue Monster and message.

Maybe it is too early in the day to allow people to create their own Blue Monster but nothing would get people more involved than feeling empowered that they, too are contributing to Microsoft's efforts to change.

Just a thought!