Re: UNIX newbie question

[joko@crl.com (Joe Kohn)]

A few points...

This recent discussion about unix and the internet and the world wide web
has everything to do with the Apple II computer. At least in my case (and
I'm not alone) it does, as I access the Internet from my Apple II. The
net is simply an extension of my Apple II.

The world wide web is the most advanced and sophisticated educational
tool ever developed. It gives students (of all ages) an easy to use tool
to search the highways and byways of cyberspace for information. It
allows anyone, even 5 year olds, the ability to retrieve vast amounts of
information from the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, the Kremlin
and from 10's of thousands of educational databases.

The fact that some people don't like the web is totally irrelevant.

When Gutenburg invented the printing press, there were those who decried
that the only real books were handwritten by scribes.

When the Apple II first came out, there were those who decried that it
would never replace the typewriter.

When the US sent Apollo-11 to the moon, there were those who decried that
mankind had no business exploring other worlds.

When Einstein unveiled the theory of relativity, there were those who
decried that he was a crackpot.

There are people who never read a newspaper, never visit a museum, don't
have a library card, and could care less about current events. Does that
mean that the rest of us should cover our heads in the sand, as well?

It is my intention to continue to share my knowledge of the Internet with
my fellow Apple II users. If that leads to me being joked about in IRC,
that's just fine with me.

It was suggested to have a RFD for a net-newbie group. That also misses
the point. The vast majority of Apple II computer users are just
that...users. They want to use the Internet from their Apple II
computers, in order to share and partake in the total accumulated
knowledge of all mankind.

Those who will only use Internet tools that they can compile themselves
are in the minority. If there were to be a new c.s.a2 group, maybe it
should cater to them?

The major point is that we can use our Apple II computers to self-direct
our on-going education via the world wide web. Remember...80% of all
Apple IIGS's (according to Apple Computer Inc) were sold to educational
institutions. And, many of the educators and students who use
comp.sys.apple2 deserve to be able to learn more about the educational
uses of their computers. And, accessing the World Wide Web from Apple II
computers is the key. It is our responsibility to talk about it here, and
to share our knowledge of it here, without fear of flames from the IRC
crowd.

Knowledge is to be shared. Those who stifle the free flow of information
on a system designed for those very purposes are impeding progress, and
pointing us backward rather than forward.

Joe