Man that guy, come on. It was great to meet you again and I hope to see you at the next MVP Summit.

Hmmm.
I read Roy's post and the various comments.
Soooooo...we've got some people who seem to be huffy because they haven't been made MVPs, we've got MVPs huffy because Rory Got Invited To Their Party And He's Unworthy...Oh dear.
It looks like a few of my fellow techies have had a bit too much success getting in touch with their inner child [rolls eyes, goes to make coffee].

You were invited and some of the people you met there will be on .Net Rocks someday.

You were invited. End of story anything beyond that is Microsofts business. I have gone to all sorts of things to which I wasn't qualified to be there on my own merits but as a press member was given an invite.

You weren't there as an MVP nobody ever said you were. Let it slide of your back if anybody has an issue with it they can take it up with Microsoft. You were a guest.

Put it in a different light. If I throw a party and I invite you as a guest and some other guests have a problem with it, who should they complain to? You or me? Me of course, it's my party.

Same for this, you are one of the hosts of a radio show. There is no rule that says a media member must have X number of days on the job before they can attend relevant events as a press member. Since you are on a show that speaks almost entirely about Microsoft technology it makes perfect sense that you would be invited. They didn't say Rory please attend this as an MVP, they said you are invited to attend.

Hmmm smells like a media invite to me. People just need to get over themselves. If there were other press members there are they getting this same complaint? No? So then are people saying there is some undefined ditinction between what you do and what channel 8's technology reporter does?

Get over it folks if you have heartburn over this take it up with Microsoft not Rory.

yeah, but was puff daddy there?

most valuable pimp?

FWIW:
I think Ted was too harsh. I don't think you should apologize, as you have been invited.
I was riling was about the fact that MS had invited non-MVPs in the first place, to a (supposed to be) closed event.
Therefore, my gripe is with them, not you.
You were (unfortunately) the trigger of that post. Had I been invited, I'd probably leap on the chance too. I'm human, arn't I?

As for press pass: here's something Susan Bradley wrote in my comments:

the press was only there for lunch on day 2 and excluded from all other venues. If Rory signed an NDA agreement and was there the entire three days, and went to parties and what not, then he was treated as a MVP. [Seattle PI guy came in for one luncheon meeting and was escorted back out and I didn't see blog photos of him dancing anywhere ;-) http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/002559.html

those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind...

Rory,

Don't sweat it. You were invited. Period. It's Microsoft's program, and it's their choice who to invite. End of story. If people have complaints, they should take them up with Microsoft, rather than dumping on you. Just let it roll off.

Pfft, politics. I'm not really interested.

On the other hand, having only skimmed all of the noise, what is this about MVPs and NDAs?

Are MVPs required to sign an NDA?

John.

p.s. I still love you Rory.

John -

"Are MVPs required to sign an NDA?"

I don't know about the general "being an MVP" life (since I don't live it), but there was an NDA for the summit (and not just for the MVPs - it was for the imposters, too).

"p.s. I still love you Rory."

I love you, too, John :)

It was an invitation.

Am I missing something?