From ns.itep.ru!Radio-MSU.net!Gamma.RU!srcc!news1.relcom.ru!EU.net!www.nntp.primenet.com!nntp.primenet.com!arclight.uoregon.edu!news.ibm.net.il!newsfeed.uk.ibm.net!news-m01.ny.us.ibm.net!news-s01.ny.us.ibm.net!usenet Wed Oct 9 02:46:48 1996 Path: ns.itep.ru!Radio-MSU.net!Gamma.RU!srcc!news1.relcom.ru!EU.net!www.nntp.primenet.com!nntp.primenet.com!arclight.uoregon.edu!news.ibm.net.il!newsfeed.uk.ibm.net!news-m01.ny.us.ibm.net!news-s01.ny.us.ibm.net!usenet From: wardell@ibm.net Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc,comp.os.os2.apps,comp.os.os2.games,comp.os.os2.beta Subject: Re: Once Again, I Think Date: 8 Oct 1996 20:33:08 GMT Lines: 164 Message-ID: <53edq4$i9c@news-s01.ny.us.ibm.net> References: <539rdb$dnb@camel3.mindspring.com> Reply-To: wardell@ibm.net NNTP-Posting-Host: slip166-72-135-85.mi.us.ibm.net X-Newsreader: IBM NewsReader/2 2.0 Xref: ns.itep.ru comp.os.os2.misc:194584 comp.os.os2.apps:141448 comp.os.os2.games:37008 comp.os.os2.beta:47387 In <539rdb$dnb@camel3.mindspring.com>, gary-at-musthave-dot-com (Gary Hammer) writes: >Hi All, > >Ok, over the past year, I have noticed a degeneration of the newsgroups as >a whole, but especially here in the OS/2 groups. > >There is a wholesale perception that everyone can say anything to anyone >with impunity. To the extent that I'm not your ISP, that's true. But, I >wonder if that's the way we want it? > >Do you like being called a drooling microcephalic child? Ever have someone >offer to pour chlorine in your gene pool? I'd hang out in the alt groups >if that is what I wanted to do with my very limited free time. I suspect >that most of us would rather come here to get OS/2 info and assistance than >to engage in a battle of words with a stranger. And I think those who >troll for victims would move on if they weren't entertained with responses. > >I know I have contributed to this lessening of the OS/2 groups, and for >that I'm sorry. I'll not make any excuses for my postings (and followup >EMail if invited). But it is wrong. > >And if you have ever jumped in where you don't belong, you are wrong too. > >Some examples, one of which seems self-serving: > >Someone says that they find OS/2 hard to install/run compared to Windows. >You respond: > a. Pond scum! Go back to kissing Gates' ass. > b. If you had two living brain cells you'd see why OS/2 is superior. > c. EMail an 80 Mb coredump to them. > >Somehow, I wonder if either being silent or better yet, asking one time >what their particular problem is wouldn't be a better solution? Maybe they >really do want someone to help out and just don't know that "Them's >fightin' words around here". > >Someone says that they wish WebEx supported Netscape extentions. >You respond: > a. I love plain text and use lynx which is the one true browser. > b. You are a moron. Those are not approved standards. > c. WebEx is the finest browser and does all you really need. > >Again, isn't there a better way to say you would keep using WebEx even if >Netscape/2 was out? After all, standards still exist somewhere on the >Internet, but money has entered the picture and all the standards bodies in >the World aren't gonna make a difference in WWW now. If you think frames >are bad, wait until it costs you 2 cents and up to access a Website. That >is coming. > >Someone runs a FAQ, FTP site, Website, or BBS. At best. they provide >useful information for a majority of OS/2 users. At the worst, they are >not forcing you to partake of their offerings. You don't like this or that >that they say/do. > >You: > a. You start a thread slamming them personally and trashing their > efforts. > b. Loudly express your indignation that your fine idea wasn't embraced by > the person. > c. Email them constantly arguing the merits of your idea. > >Wouldn't it be better if you just EMailed the person and then took "No" for >an answer? Do you really think you're going to change their mind by >harrassing them and slamming them? If you really hate whatever it is or it >annoys you so badly, why not killfile the author or drop their URL from >your quicklist? > >Someone put together a freeware program and puts it out for the public. >You: > a. Tell them what a lousy program it is since it doesn't (fill in the > blank). > b. Post articles telling everyone it trashed your system when actually > you did. > c. Email Sysops and FTP site managers telling them to pull the app > because (fill in). > >Wouldn't it be better to make certain that you have read the docs and >installed/used the app properly? Maybe EMail the author and ask if he has >seen this or that problem? Yes, if it's genuinely buggy, let us know. But >until you are certain, why bother the rest of us? > >The same goes for Tech Support requests. If they never (> 2 weeks) reply, >say so. If they can't waive a magic wand and fix your system, well, too >bad. I'll also speak up for the ISVs who get beat up for their pricing. >If you think a product is too expensive, don't buy it. Simple market >economics will decide if the price is too high. Again, you need do >nothing. > >In any of these cases, the key you (and I) should bear in mind is this: > >No matter how rightfully angry you are, a little politeness goes a long way >and nearly always gets you a faster, friendlier, more accurate response. > >As I said, I'm guilty, and more so than most. However, in the interests >of getting these newsgroups back on track I'm gonna do the following: > >Not hit the "reply" button so fast. When it comes right down to it, why do >I need to reply to someone who is trolling with Win95 bait at all? Or >someone who thinks that they have a God-given right to my undivided >attention because they use a free service I provide. Or someone who can't >seem to operate anything more complex than a can opener? I don't need to. >And, henceforth, I'm not gonna. > >Instead, I will go look at a new app that needs evaluated, play a game of >Empire, or better yet, post a reply with actual help for someone who needs >it. > >Finally, I will try my best to change the topic when the thrust of the >thread changes and post to topical groups. Why my video card is best >doesn't belong in os2.networking.tcp-ip > >I suggest that you do the same. It will make these groups what they once >were not too long ago. A place where you can come for news and assistance >on OS/2. And a place that newcomers to OS/2 can feel comfortable asking >questions that we all answered years ago, but are important to that person >anyway. > >As most of you know, if >I< can do this, anybody can. What could be easier >than doing nothing? > >Thanks for your time. If there's anything you want to know, feel free to > ask. I won't bite > > >Gary Hammer, Webmaster >OS/2 "Must-Have" Utilities List and Links >http://www.musthave.com > Gary, I completely agree with you on every point. Unfortunately, I am not sure what can be done about it. I saw the same thing happen to the Amiga newsgroups long ago and the same thing is happening to the OS/2 newsgroups. Long ago, my #1 reason for wanting to write OS/2 software was to support the OS/2 community I was part of. A community made up of individuals that realized that here was a better way of doing things. A community that knew the alternatives and chose the best platform. Not because they hated other platforms or hated some company but because they had come to know that OS/2 was the best choice. Now, I see more and more people who use OS/2 as a way of "getting back" at some company or some other reason other than the fact it is still largely the best way to get work (and play) done. With all the anger, hatred, and frustration I read on the newsgroups, I have come to catch myself coming to realize that the #1 reason I think twice about doing future OS/2 software is due to the increasing number of fanatical and hateful OS/2 users that send me rude and obnoxious e-mail (and public posts) on a daily basis. And that is a shame. Not to say other newsgroups are free or problems, since your original post, I decided to check out other newsgroups to see if this is an internet-wide thing or something that is more concentrated in the OS/2 groups. Unfortunately, I found that while fanatical users are increasing overall, the OS/2 newsgroups are easily an order of magnitude worse. Thanks for your post, Gary. I hope it wakes people up and makes people think twice before they name-call someone. Brad