Newsgroups: comp.org.acm
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!fluke!kurt
From: kurt@tc.fluke.COM (Kurt Guntheroth)
Subject: Re: New format of CACM
Message-ID: <1991May9.165219.1558@tc.fluke.COM>
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
References: <5862@ns-mx.uiowa.edu> <1991May3.230122.13004@dsd.es.com> <91May4.114925edt.2077@ois.db.toronto.edu>
Date: Thu, 9 May 91 16:52:19 GMT

Well, I called ACM headquarters at 212-869-7440.  I found them less than
sympathetic.  They transferred me three times in one minute, finally leaving
me with the "Art Department".  He claims that the table of contents will be
changed in the July issue because of the number of complaints they had
received.  He also claimed that the new graphical look was necessary and
that if the people who "designed" the CACM didn't need all those graphics he
wouldn't have a job.  CACM is not a journal, it is a magazine.  He said
there are factions that are complaining that CACM should go back to the "old
ways" but that's not going to happen.  He also said they had received 10
positive comments for each negative one.  (Not the ratio we are experiencing,
but I guess we are one of those "factions".  I suppose we could change his
ratio though).

All in all, I think they are totally out of control.

He was interested in learning of specific instances of font clashes and
inappropriate typography.  I suggest that anyone else who wants to complain
should be prepared with specific points to complain about, because they
aren't interested in hearing that you think its ugly and its mother dresses
it funny.