Re: ANN: Retiring from A2 world - Good Bye All!

["Donald L. Johnson" <70524.1023@Compuserve.com>]

In article <3d055e4d@news.svn.net>, "Paul Grammens" <grammens@svn.net>
wrote:

>
>"Jeff Blakeney" <CUTjblakeney@sympatico.ca> wrote
>>
>> Neither "side", in this case, is completely innocent although,
>> personally, I try to at least be civil.
>>
>
>I agree- you'd never post something like that, nor would I.  If Tom ever did
>so, perhaps it was before my time. Surely you'd admit that there are far
>more obscenity-laced diatribes posted by Tom's enemies than by Tom or his
>supporters.
>
>Tom may be a bit of an odd duck, and he may have been naughty at times, but
>he has also helped keep the Apple II alive, and for that I'm grateful.  For
>those of you that thought you could have made millions selling Apple II
>software if it hadn't been for Tom... you're living in a fantasy world.
>-Paul
>
>
----------


The key phrase, Paul, is "If Tom ever did so, perhaps it was before my
time." Tom did, and it was.  Yes, Tom could be very helpful, and down-right
charming.  But, seemingly at the drop of a hat, he could be as foul-mouthed
and vicious as Quantum Cat, and so were many of his allies.  I have
experienced firsthand Tom's vitriol (in email, not on the public newsgroup).

Tom did post copyrighted, currently-being-sold software to his website, to
Asimov, and other places, for free download.  When the
authors/rights-holders, including Joe Kohn, Richard Bennett, and many
others, objected and asked that the software be removed, they were met with
threats of lawsuits and physical violence.  They were also derided by such
luminaries as S.Mentzer and LJSilicon, using phrases just such as you did
about living in a fantasy world if they thought they could make a living
selling Apple II software.  Fantasy or not, they were protecting their legal
rights and property against theft.

Tom also had a habit of posting notices that he had arranged for
abandoned-ware to be released into the public domain.  When members of the
CSA2 newsgroups tried to verify the info, in many cases Tom became
defensive, refused to post the document granting permission, and attacked
anyone questioning his credibility.  Queries to the software
author/rightsholder usually resulted in replies akin to "Huh? What are you
talking about?  Never heard of him, never gave any such permission."

Finally, Tom has been playing this game of announcing "I'm going away and
never coming back!" for many years.  He may actually go away, or he may just
lurk for a few weeks or months, then he reappears as if he were never gone. 
So you can understand the scepticism his latest announcement received.  

As difficult as it may be for some here to believe, I bear Tom no ill will. 
If he is, in fact, ill, I wish him a speedy recovery.  But I have seen what
he's been doing for almost 15 years on these newsgroups, and I no longer
trust what he says.
 

Donald
Submariner, retired