Re: A New Game for the GS!

[joko@crl.com (Joe Kohn)]

I just can't believe that people have flamed Richard King, and continue to
flame him. I can't take it too much longer, so I'm going to add my 2 cents.

First of all, Richard King first arrived here on c.s.a2 very recently. His
first posts were incredibly well written and well thought out, and he
quickly proved himself to be an enegetic and positive force in our
community. After all, it was Richard's efforts and vision that got The
Phoenix Project up and running, and it was through Richard's efforts that
Foundation was re-released as freeware.

As if that wasn't enough, Richard King has also shown himself to be a pretty
good programmer, as evidenced by the 'Worm Wiggle' game he posted the other
day on c.b.a2, which by the way, took me all of about 25 seconds to
download.

In my humble opinion, Richard King has proven himself to be an Apple II
"mover and shaker", and I am quite literally aghast at the flames directed
at him. After all, every single day on c.s.a2, I read posts that contain
inaccurate information, and I don't see the posters who post without
thinking getting flamed.

All of which brings up something in my mind. These are my opinions, and they
may be right and they may be wrong, but I think they deserve airing...

In a very general sense, the way I see it is that we have 2 distinct groups
of people that access c.s.a2. Although I hate to generalize, one large group
is composed of students and the other group is composed of adults.

Students and young people in general are an idealistic group. They look at
the world, and it's easy for them to see hypocrisy in many things. Being
idealistic is very easy for youth; it comes with the territory and they can
afford to be idealistic.

I thoroughly believe that what has become known as "Netiquette" is
predicated and based in large part by youth and their idealism.

On the other hand, we have adults here, most of whom used to be idealistic
youth at one time too. But, in the real world, where you have to come up
with rent checks and alimony checks and where you have a boss or job you
might hate, it's not that easy to remain idealistic.

Well, many of c.s.a2's youth will be entering the real world one of these
days, and sadly, they too will lose some of that idealism. Sadly, there
aren't too many "Holden Caulfields" in the real world. If there were, they'd
be eaten alive and taken advantage of.

OK...so what's the point?

The point is, at least as far as I'm concerned, I'd rather see students
acting like adults than see adults acting like students.

I'd like to see some respect around here for people like Richard King. Think
about it...why do you think that all the active Apple II companies do not
maintain a presence here? Why is it that we see less and less of people that
produce commercial software hanging out on c.s.a2? Could it be that they are
as put off by the flamewars as I am? Or, as Richard King is?

Think about it. Do you want to drive Richard King from the net? If so, I
think you're doing a good job of it. Cut the man some slack! If you must
flame him, at least start out by thanking him for his efforts with Phoenix.

Do you want to "support those who support the Apple II" or would you
rather see them move on? Like so many others have.

Thank about it...

As Pink Floyd sang, "Careful with that flame, Eugene"