Re: Weasel

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

gids.rs@sasktel.net wrote:
> > Yes, your feelings and perceptions of injustice are quite reasonable.
> >
> > But it's worth stopping to consider the reason for doing the work in
> > the first place.
> >
> > If you did the work for your own benefit (money, power, glory), then
> > you have reason to feel thwarted by someone distributing your work
> > (particularly without attribution).
> >
> > But if you did the work as a service to the community, then wider
> > distribution actually furthers your goals, regardless of the means.
>
>
> Sorry Michael.  I don't agree with your perception.  I am actually
> appalled by it.  

I agree that it is appalling that this was done without permission
and without attribution.  It still has the effect of making the
information more "durable" on the web, though.

> The reason for any of us doing the work is to be
> recognized as contributors to an Apple community.  If someone steals
> your entire work and casts it off as being HIS hard labor, whether
> there is monetary gain or not, then we are all in danger of having our
> values, beliefs and our energy into something we love dearly, taken
> away from us.  This would be exactly the same as some government
> agency cloning you without your permission, and this guy just started
> taking over your life and started living it, taking on your habits,
> your mannerisms, your hobbies.  Taking away everything you would hold
> dear.  And maybe even taking away your baby (both figuratively
> speaking and literally)

So this corresponds to "doing it for the glory"---and to keep control
over one's contribution--both quite understandable motivations.

> I think that is the best analogy anyone will come up with and as a
> community, we should all stand by Apple2History and help defend him so
> he will stay in this community.  I would rather have the real deal
> than some clone posing as Apple2History in this community.  Wouldn't
> you?

I think his rights are quite clear, and do not require our "support",
unless you mean our "attaboys".  Steven, I have always appreciated your
very comprehensive and accurate chronicling of the Apple II, and I want
all your experiences related to this contribution to be positive.

> A contribution to the community can only be made if that person brings
> his own ideas, thoughts, and energy to this thriving community, but if
> he is just here to be a leach, then this community will dwindle away
> pretty quick.  We all need to pitch together to shut this clone down
> as quick as possible.

Well, at least he's contributed web space and bandwidth!

> I believe that everyone that reads these posts should send an email
> to  Dreamhost asking them to remove that website from their servers
> and it should not just be left up to Apple2History.  The more that
> Dreamhost gets shown how much support that Apple2History has, the more
> likely they will close it down, or face legal action.  They will
> realize that their fight is not against just one person.

I doubt that ISPs "count votes" in legal matters.  A documented
complaint from the original site owner should be quite sufficient.

> > I remember going through a very similar thought process many years
> > ago when I was trying to decide whether to release a program as
> > shareware or freeware.  I decided that my intent was never to make
> > anything from my efforts, so I released it as freeware.
> >
> > Of course, there is a benefit in maintaining some kind of "version
> > control" over anything released, to preserve some consistency.  This
> > is sacrificed when copies are made, but that kind of physical diversity
> > is *exactly* what makes the information more durable in the real world.
> >
> > -michael
>
> This is totally different than releasing software or even getting
> software ripped off which was even my initial understanding.  This is
> something visible to everyone, where software is hidden out of view.
> And Apple2History never released his website to anyone to use as their
> own.  If they put a link on their website linking to his and gave him
> full credit, that would be totally different.

Publishing a web site is precisely releasing a "program"--which is
only visible to the extent that it is downloadable and interpretable
by a browser.  (Actually, the fact that web pages are "programs" is
one of their security issues.  ;-)

> Help protect this community as you would with a neighborhood watch
> program with your neighbors in the city you live.  Crime on the net is
> no different than crime happening on your same street.  It still
> shakes you up.
>
> Keep this thread alive and start showing your support.

Again, who's counting votes?

I've several times said that this was clearly a misdeed.

I think that a more useful contribution is pointing out alternative
points of view and even ways to turn lemons into lemonade...

> Rob
>
> PS  If it comes to it and legal action is needed, I would be willing
> to throw a couple hundred dollars your way.
> This community means that much to me.  What does it mean to you?

I would be very surprised if it came to that.  Most ISPs are responsive
to facts and know their responsibilities.

Jeez, we've become a litigious bunch!  First talk, then request, then
tell, then, if all else fails, maybe sue.  ;-)

We're probably discussing the actions of a teenager here!

-michael

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