John writes:

> > Wirt wrote...
>  >
>  > >Nonetheless, if HP3000-L turned into a purely technical
>  > newslist, where it's
>  > >a repeat of the information that could be gotten out of the
>  > manuals with a
>  > >little bit of work, it would hold no interest to me
>
>  I let this pass when Wirt first wrote it, but cannot resist adding my $.02
>  now (note I have re-added the OT designation).
>
>  We let Wirt get away with making a wild generalization based upon nothing
>  more than his belief in something being true. Hardly what I would expect
>  from someone so versed in the scientific method. ;-)

You're emphasizing the wrong half of my sentence. While I do greatly believe
in the value of the on-topic posts, and I never meant to imply otherwise, I
can say with metaphysical certitude, far beyond any scientific doubt, that a
technical-only newslist only would hold little value to me. That's my own
personal opinion. Nonetheless, of the six billion people presently on the
planet, no one is more sure of my opinions than I am :-).

As I wrote earlier, I pay no attention now to UNIX, Linux, or Windows
newsgroups (if such a thing exists), even though we are in the process of
actively developing a half dozen new products in Windows. With Windows
especially, I find that newsgroup help is unnecessary. The MSDN/Support
Knowledge Base that's on-line is simply superb, and what information I don't
find there I can find using Google surprisingly quickly. There are a vast
number of webpages put up on the web regarding tips and tricks for VB, as
there are a number of really good books on Windows APIs, especially the Dan
Appleman series.


> What I objected to and
>  will continue to object to is when the continued posturing on a particular
>  topic goes way beyond normal polite discussion in both content and
duration.
>  This is what caused me to speak up. Note that the war threads do not
>  represent the first time this has happened, but is certainly the most
>  egregious example.

I feel quite the opposite. Being a geek huddled away in cubicle somewhere
does not excuse you from being a citizen of either your country or of the
world. I thought that the entire exercise was extremely valuable. I
personally was exposed to ideas and opinions which I would never have thought
of -- or would have ever thought of holding.

I can't think of a better place to argue such thoughts than somewhere such as
HP3000-L, where you put your professional and personal reputations at stake
to make your opinions clear. It's not the same thing as screaming your
opinions anonymously into some dark corner of the internet. Here we all know
one another,  we value each other's opinions, and occasionally we require one
another's help.

Wirt Atmar

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