Re: The Strength of a Community

[Roy and/or Janet Miller <millers@inetnebr.com>]

Michael Murray wrote:

> I wouldn't put myself in the camp of either the Turlettes or the Vogons.  My
> alliance is the Apple II family of computers.  The rest of you can all go
> hang.  In that spirit, don't expect me to reply to any flames for this post.
>
> What I would like to point out though, in this whole sickening mess, is that
> *no other* antique computing community could behave this way and still
> survive.  For example, every Commodore 64 fanatic I know feels a certain
> clan-like alliance and protectiveness toward every other C64 die-hard.  They
> seem to understand that their favourite antique can't really survive without
> loyalty and cooperation between its modern-day followers.
>
> I'd like to put a better face on the infighting in csa2 by looking on it as
> a measure of strength.  The Apple II has seen 10 years come and go.  And if,
> despite the bickering, it can still enjoy the level of popularity that it
> does, and see excellent new products like Marinetti developed, if KFest is
> still a reality... then I'll bet we'll see at least another 10 years.
>
> Apple II Forever!

I'll not flame you Michael, but I think that the Apple II has always attracted
the creme of the human race, and this interminable debate is because the Apple
II attracts people of high moral and ethical standards, as well as people with
other excellent qualities. The sheer artistry of the computer itself and of the
software that turns it from an inert mass of electronic parts into one of the
few computers with a personality that is lovable (as well, at times, as
exasperating) and worthy of devotion of time and effort. Such artistry should be
treasured and protected. And so some work hard to get software released from
copyright protection. Others to create new software, or to allow us to use these
noble machines to use the Internet instead of our much more powerful but
lifeless Wintel boxes. And others seek to Watchmen on the Walls, calling out the
warning of trampling upon the rights of those artists who gave us the machine
and it's life. And for that, they are called vile names, defamed and flamed, and
yet they still issue the cry. Perhaps some love the fight, but if so, it is
evident that that is true on both sides. I'm sure that some don't see the
importance, and others honestly disagree with the Watchers, and that's their
right. But the Watchmen only issue Warnings, they cannot compel or forbid, yet
some do not like to have the warnings proclaimed; they seek to silence the
Watchers, to shout down their Warnings, to burst into the II storehouses, to
loot them,  and to distribute that which is not theirs, so that others will
proclaim their glory and their generosity, generosity with that which is not
their own, and which dishonors the wizards who gave us such treasure.

Man, there has got to be an adventure game in that prose somewhere....  :-)

Roy