Re: The "user-developer gap" myth

[a2mg@aol.comNomail (The Apple II Mail Group)]

> but, at some point, one just has to say
'enough is enough'. Sending any enthusiastic new Apple II user to such places
is a disservice.

This is absolutely true. About two years ago I had been working late nights
developing the Y2K fixes for AppleWorks (all versions), ProSel, Sneeze,
Change-A-File, and some of the TimeOut programs. It was a joy to accomplish,
and it was also very difficult work (for me) to do. We tested them and worked
them over in the mail group. Then I went over to Delphi (where I rarely
visited, because one staff member sent me several vicious e-mails) to announce
and share the results with their readers. What I found was appalling. 

Someone (Bruce Baker) had started a topic with my name as the subject, and
proceeded to invite people to make comments about me. It was a long, negative
personal attack that was allowed to go on for nearly a month, without my
knowledge and behind my back. No one had the guts to tell me about it. I
stumbled upon it when I went to announce our Y2K updates.

Anyway, after having worked so hard on all those new products, and attempting
to share them, finding all this was absolutely beyond belief!! I cried. I
complained. My readers complained. Their readers complained. People say (to
this day) that it was the most un-Delphi like thing they had ever seen. To top
it off, about a week after I discovered that this had been going on behind my
back, Bruce Baker (who started the personal attack  thread) had the gall to
send me money for a subscription to my newsletter! I sent it right back. (This
explains his occasional sour grapes on this board). It also explains why the
Apple II mail group is so strong. We'd do almost anything to keep "them" out.

Anyway, everything Rubywand says is absolutely true. I'm not going to say
"don't go there," because there are many good people there. But end-users and
developers alike can get excellent help on this board without going through
hell. That is why I am happy to see Sheppy coming out on the web with an
independent and open mind. It's about time.

Beverly Cadieux 
TEXAS II an international newsletter for users of AppleWorks(R) 5.1