Re: vogons vs Users

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

Arkain wrote:

> To all Turlettes, Vogons, Anti-Pirates, & Users:
>
> I want this thread to be about finding a way to make the arguments made by
> both sides to simply vaporize. If you can't add anything constructive to the
> frey, then please hold your tongue.

The problem with the above post is that it won't happen. Nice idea ("Can't we
all just get along" - Rodney King: Answer? No!) but it hasn't worked when others
have proposed it. There are some, on either side of the issue who would or do
use restrained language and argue with ideas, facts, logic, etc. But there are
those who seem to enjoy putting other people down personally, who think that
character assassination and name calling is perfectly acceptable behavior. As
long as they have the freedom to post here, such will continue, and the
atmosphere will continue to be poisoned.

While I'd like to see that disappear, I wouldn't like the argument itself to
disappear. I've learned from some with whom I've disagreed. Sometimes they have
good ideas, e.g. someone above suggested 5 year renewals on copyrights that can
only be renewed if the item is still made available. Given that almost anyone
can manufactor a book or software at home anymore, that isn't an unreasonable
idea to try to sell to your local congressman/senator. Point out how software
that you wish to buy isn't available for purchase, even though you'd like to buy
it and the author might like a royalty. Perhaps the publishing right would also
revert within a certain time period (or perhaps that is already in the standard
contracts between authors and publishers - do you know Rudy?) "Abandonware"
really isn't a very accurate term, since really it's the authors who have been
abandoned - they could sell their software for $5.00 and plenty of us would buy
it and they would still make a fair return. Even if all they sold were a few
each month, it could be worth the effort to sell "Choplifter" on a flippy disk
with a text manual on the "B" side, how long would it take to make five copies
and drop them in mailers and put a stamp on them? Or, if the author really can't
be bothered, he or she could then let it become freeware. If the rights weren't
held hostage by a corporation that just sits on them.

BTW - if Tom reads this, it was my understanding that you were going to post the
headers on the Einstein release. I'm still waiting to see that please.

Roy