Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!rex!uflorida!mephisto!bbn!bbn.com!cosell
From: cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: F/A-18 help requested!
Message-ID: <50890@bbn.COM>
Date: 14 Jan 90 02:30:26 GMT
References: <20907@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> <X5HC294@drivax.UUCP> <25ae03f7:3735.12comp.sys.amiga;1@tronsbox.UUCP>
Sender: news@bbn.COM
Lines: 42

tron1@tronsbox.UUCP (HIM) writes:

}in :
}>Author: [Bernie Cosell]
}>  Date: Fri Jan 12 1990 03:28 
}> Lines: 42
}>
}>No.  It is just a bit irking to suspect our newsgroup is being used as
}>a tech support line for what _feels_ like a pirated copy of the game.
}>... and as I say, even if it isn't a pirated copy, as it may well not
}>be, a registered owner has other, "lower profile" ways of getting

}Ok, so what you are saying is that we should take to >slandering< wich is
}almost what happened, the reputation of someone we don't know, in a public
}forum, without evidence?

Foo.  There was no slandering (barring the technicality that you
apparently don't know what slander is... try a dictionary and compare
its definition with libel).  The open question is given a program with
a totally simple to understand manual, why should anyone EVER give more
of an answer to such a question other than "Gee, you must have missed
it: it is right there on the bottom of page 9"?  If the person is NOT
pirating, then that is _more_ than enough help (is it not?); if the
person IS trying to puzzle out a priated copy, we're not parties to
it.  What could be easier?  No accusations, no bad feelings, no
flaming... just a simple answer and a simple respone.

}I like it , that way , I dont have to worry about helping the confused, I
}can just say they pirated it.

Helping the confused?  Huh?   No, you're missing the point.  All of the
"slandering" (sic) generally occurs in the followups as folks like you
go off half-cocked.  I repeat: no need for recriminations or
namecalling.  The only necessity for the mention of the p-word is to
remind the somewhat, er, uh, 'slower' of the usenet reading audience
that this is a question that is *perfectly* answered by nothing more
than a reference to the manual... AND that if you volunteer a whole lot
more help [that is, if you are gracious and/or dense enough to read the
person the manual over the net], you _might_ be helping abet the spread
and use of pirated software.  

  /bernie\