Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!hacgate!ashtate!dbase!awd
From: awd@dbase.UUCP (Alastair Dallas)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Ad hominem attacks (was: Tail patches)
Summary: Higher level discussion, please
Message-ID: <309@dbase.UUCP>
Date: 30 Nov 89 17:20:30 GMT
References: <5352@internal.Apple.COM>
Organization: Ashton Tate Devlopment Center Glendale, Calif.
Lines: 22

Tim--Shame on you for posting ad hominem attacks.  If you must attack Paul's
behavior, please don't villify him as an individual.  I'm constantly
re-amazed at the power of usenet--by putting up with a little fluff (and
perhaps some bluster) I can feel connected to people doing similar work
around the world.  You're one of a handful of real experts offering this
feast of information, but I don't think you realize how much it can hurt
to be publicly attacked on comp.sys.mac.programmer.  It's not like a
broadcast attack; it's direct mail to specifically the people whose
professional respect matters the most.

Paul--Take the hint.  Tim is completely right that your job is public
relations whenever you're on this net.  Apple promulgates standards; the
developer community makes them happen because we believe in standards and
we agree that the particular ones Apple pushes are acceptable.  A lot of
"standard" practices came from people like Tim, not Apple.  The charge
is that you believe that a harsh drill sergeant approach can force
standards upon unwilling developers--say it ain't so, Paul.  If you
explain the standards, you have a chance of selling them to us--yelling
doesn't work.  I'm sorry about the frustration, but I think it goes with
the territory.

/alastair/