RE: Content Violation:The Value of this List (was: REXX problem)

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael
Naughton
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 8:41 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Content Violation:The Value of this List (was: REXX problem)

I've been on this list for about ten years now -- I don't say much,
because usually I don't have much to say (not that that stops some
people ;-), but I have been grateful more times than I can count
for all the help I have received directly and
indirectly from the people who do take the trouble to post. There
have been some recurring themes -- impatience with newbies,
impatience with impatience for newbies, reactions to real or
imagined slights, meditations on whether Windows is a useful tool
or a dangerous botch-job, lengthy discussions on topics such as the
sad state of people coming out of computer science programs these
days, etc. -- that periodically prompt a rash of "you people are a
waste of my time -- I'm done with this list" type
responses. But throughout it all,the vast majority of the time,
people new and old come here with their questions and get them
answered -- often in excruciating detail, with references to other
help and practical examples to take home. This, in my
experience, is a rare thing, and IMHO sometimes it's appropriate to
step back and appreciate just how rare and special it is.

And I think it's helpful to remember, too, that the people who make
this possible aren't all saints, and it may be unreasonable to
expect that they should be. Sometimes it's the ego (or whatever it
is) that sticks in some people's craws that's the very
thing that drives someone to make a post in the first place, and
not just sit back in the shadows and figure someone else will
answer the question. Over the years I feel as if I've come to know
some of the regular posters, and while I'm sometimes glad
that they aren't sitting in the cubicle across from me (and gladder
that some of them are not my boss! :-), I'm always grateful that
they've been willing to share their knowledge (and their passion,
because without the passion they might not have the
knowledge) with the rest of us.

So I think I speak for hundreds of others when I say "thank you" to
everyone who makes this list possible -- most especially David
Gibbs, who did a wonderful thing in setting it up in the first
place, but also all the others whom I won't try to name
because I'd inevitably leave someone out. You know who you are (and
so do we :-), and even if we don't say anything we're glad you're
out there. And if you feel like ranting and raving from time to
time, don't let me stop you. Keep up the good work. It's
appreciated.


Mike Naughton
Senior Programmer/Analyst
Judd Wire, Inc.
****************************************

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