The State of the A2 World Today on the Internet

By Macprober - GS WorldView Editor
November 16, 1999

After following the activities, postings and thoughts from many A2 users, and
developers on all areas of the Internet over the past few months, I've sdecided
to present the folowing two CSA2 postings that I sincerely think reflect "The
State of the A2 World Today on the Internet".

The only way any community can survive in a healthy and productive state is to
show respect, understanding and concern by all and for all those who make up a
community.  

Read the two quoted posts below and hopefully you'll see the reasoning I give
above for presenting them here.

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Quoted CSA2 Post #1

Subject: A post that actually relates to this newsgroup
From: tturner@ecn.ab.ca ()
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2,comp.emulators.apple2
Followup-To: comp.sys.apple2,comp.emulators.apple2
Date: 16 Nov 99 05:49:09 GMT
Organization: Edmonton Community Network
Message-ID: <3830f055.0@ecn.ab.ca>
References: <jonINTERNETrelayCHAT-1211991409200001@nn-157-22-181-83.napanet.net> 
<1e17yeq.16d8k6h1ff8ugwN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz> 
<jonINTERNETrelayCHAT-1211992348170001@nn-157-22-180-196.napanet.net> 
<1e18fih.qho731vo48pqN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz> 
<382f1aef.0@ecn.ab.ca> <3830598e.7290825@news>
NNTP-Posting-Host: freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
NNTP-Posting-Date: 16 Nov 1999 05:50:17 GMT
Xref: lobby comp.sys.apple2:90986 comp.emulators.apple2:18920



Jeff Blakeney (CUTblakeney@home.com) wrote:
: On 14 Nov 99 20:26:23 GMT, tturner@ecn.ab.ca () wrote:
: >    A heartfelt thank-you to _ALL_ that keep the A2 torch burning
: >    brightly. No matter the backgrounds - we all still care . . .

: Yes, comp.sys.apple2 does help to support our beloved hardware and its
: older software.  One of the big reasons I stick around here is to help
: those people who are new to the internet and don't know about
: alternate sources of Apple II info such as Delphi, Shareware Solutions
: II, Juiced.GS and others.

: But if only the big names in the Apple II community could hear this
: kind of thing, and hear it more often, we might have an even healthier
: software industry.  These are the people still producing and
: supporting new software but unfortunately most of them don't read
: these newsgroups anymore.  If you have a Delphi account, posting a
: message like this there would help bolster the spirits of people like
: Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd, Richard Bennett, Ewen Wannop, Geoff Weiss and
<snip>

--> Unfortunately, that I cannot do as I do not have a Delphi Account.

    Nor will I, anytime soon; as I am not comfortable being forced to
    register, in order to gain access. There may (or may not) be any
    `cost' to joining - but I do not wish to give out my name, email
    or address to an organization that may (or may not) use my info
    and/or interests to target me or to sell (or give) the info to
    anyone else. One may be able to confidently tell me that no,
    there is no charge and no, they do not use the info for any
    nefarious purpose and one could probably note that who would
    care in today's day and age; about some old A2 user's interests
    and one could well be right. One could also note that much of the
    info that I'm uncomfortable giving out is available right now, from
    my postings and one would be reasonably correct. Nevertheless; none
    of this changes the fact that any place that wants me to register
    before giving me access makes me extremely uncomfortable/unhappy.

    I tend to stay away from things that make me unhappy. Therefore I
    cannot post my views on Delphi, so therefore my message (for what
    little it's worth) will not be seen by those who do not frequent
    this NG. Sorry 'bout that, but it's how I feel. Please note that I
    have nothing against those who frequent Delphi - I'm sure they're
    mostly great people. It's just not a place I'd go as long as Delphi
    demands that info or as long as I feel this way about it. I'm also
    aware that there's a strong likelyhood that Delphi (mostly) does
    this to protect themselves, their business, the users and the data.

    It still doesn't make me feel any better about their policy. And,
    no, I have nothing to hide - it just makes me feel uncomfortable.

    Once bit, twice shy. I've been on too many junk-mail lists in the
    past 30 odd years of my adult life and I just hate it. Absolutely
    loathe it.

    I'm quite amenable to purchasing software, for any of the platforms
    I currently use at home and will do so, if (a) I know of it, (b) it
    is something I require or desire and (c) can afford it. Sometimes,
    this means purchasing new, commercial software/hardware. Sometimes,
    this means trying, then paying, the shareware fee. Sometimes, this
    means buying second-hand. Sometimes this means trading/swapping.
    sometimes this means I pass on it. Each situation is dealt with on
    its' own merits.

    I don't mind supporting - but not for something I don't need/want.
    If the stuff isn't readily accessible to me - then I certainly
    cannot find out if it falls into any of the above noted categories.
    I can't say I _would_ purchase a new FRPG for the A2 - but in this
    case I don't recall seeing any info on it. I _might_ as my wife
    and I enjoy FRPG's and though the current crop on the PC-side of
    life have great graphics; they're mostly what I call thinly-
    disguised `shootem-ups' and we abhore the gore, to coin a phrase.

    M&MII, Dark Heart of UUkrull and Wizardry VI were the last FRPG's
    we played on my Apple IIe. For that matter, we never finished Wiz5
    as it was so big and poorly structured that it became unplayable
    and took our enjoyment away. Why play a game if it's a chore?

    We've not played any FRPG since we started M&MVI; the engine most
    FRPGs use nowadays, that allows one the freedom to move anywhere,
    that most seem to prefer for the freedom it gives; is the exact
    thing we find makes the game too vague. I guess we're just stuck
    in the `old' mindset of prefering the 10x10 R-L-F-B moves. As well
    as prefering the party-style of playing as opposed to the single-
    player style that is becoming so common. <sigh> Just `old fogeys'
    I guess. Sorry 'bout the verbosity. I, too, didn't mean to carry
    on so long. I still enjoy a goodly portion of the people and info
    of this NG.

E.A.G.L.E Librarian A3 BBS:403/481-3133  email:tturner@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
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Quoted CSA2 Post #2

From: supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2,comp.emulators.apple2
Date: 16 Nov 1999 07:40:23 GMT
References: <3830f055.0@ecn.ab.ca>
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Message-ID: <19991116024023.06325.00001606@ng-fp1.aol.com>
Xref: lobby comp.sys.apple2:90993 comp.emulators.apple2:18921



tturner@ecn.ab.ca () wrote:

>Jeff Blakeney (CUTblakeney@home.com) wrote:
>
>: On 14 Nov 99 20:26:23 GMT, tturner@ecn.ab.ca () wrote:
>: >    A heartfelt thank-you to _ALL_ that keep the A2 torch burning
>: >    brightly. No matter the backgrounds - we all still care . . .
>
>: Yes, comp.sys.apple2 does help to support our beloved hardware and its
>: older software.  One of the big reasons I stick around here is to help
>: those people who are new to the internet and don't know about
>: alternate sources of Apple II info such as Delphi, Shareware Solutions
>: II, Juiced.GS and others.
>
>: But if only the big names in the Apple II community could hear this
>: kind of thing, and hear it more often, we might have an even healthier
>: software industry.  These are the people still producing and
>: supporting new software but unfortunately most of them don't read
>: these newsgroups anymore.  If you have a Delphi account, posting a
>: message like this there would help bolster the spirits of people like
>: Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd, Richard Bennett, Ewen Wannop, Geoff Weiss and
><snip>
>
>--> Unfortunately, that I cannot do as I do not have a Delphi Account.
>
>    Nor will I, anytime soon; as I am not comfortable being forced to
>    register, in order to gain access. There may (or may not) be any
>    `cost' to joining - but I do not wish to give out my name, email
>    or address to an organization that may (or may not) use my info
>    and/or interests to target me or to sell (or give) the info to
>    anyone else. One may be able to confidently tell me that no,
>    there is no charge and no, they do not use the info for any
>    nefarious purpose and one could probably note that who would
>    care in today's day and age; about some old A2 user's interests
>    and one could well be right. One could also note that much of the
>    info that I'm uncomfortable giving out is available right now, from
>    my postings and one would be reasonably correct. Nevertheless; none
>    of this changes the fact that any place that wants me to register
>    before giving me access makes me extremely uncomfortable/unhappy.

I agree.  I too do not have a Delphi account.

But csa2 is a fine place to support the Apple II.  I mean,
like you I stick around here and direct new users to the
sources of software.  The developers might not like csa2,
but they cannot change the fact that I KNOW some of
the new users I've informed about THEIR (the developer's)
products have BOUGHT those products.

I'm sure the few developers who care to read csa2 once
in a while know that I'm costantly plugging their products.
In fact, some people have even complained that my
information posts to new users are infomercials for the
IIGS and IIGS products.  However, I feel that the benefits
justify the actions.  Users have emailed me about how
they got Focus drives and Sirius memory from Alltech,
System 6.0.1 from Byte Works, Harmonie from Joe
Kohn's Shareware Solutions II, ProTERM from Intrec,
and Spectrum/SIS from Seven Hills.  I only wish the
developers admit that support for their products and for
them is coming from csa2.

Csa2 is not the bad place some folks think it is.  And
not everyone interested in supporting the Apple II is or
will go on Delphi.  I'm not saying Delphi is bad.  It is
a good forum.  But so is csa2.  There should not be
an artificial line drawn between the two.

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Final thoughts and logic on everything -> United we stand, divided we fall.
It's as simple as that.

That's All Folks !

Macprober