On Thu, 12 Oct 2000, R. D. Davis wrote:
> Having once met a donkey, I can say that I found it to be a much more
> affable, and well mannered, creature than you appear to be; hence, I
> don't take that as an insult as you apparently intended it to be. To
> answer your question, however, I don't have four feet, have no long
> ears, and no tail, so, it's not at all difficult to deduce that the
> answer to your question is no.
Then you must certainly be an asshole, because I've met plenty of them,
and you fit the mold quite aptly.
> The VCF is also a place to draw the attention of non-hackers to
> computer collecting;
And this is a bad thing because.......?
> while the prices of older equipment at VCF may
> not be terribly high, in terms of e-bay pricing or affordability for
> most of us here, I recon that they're still far higher than they were
> at hamfests several years ago.
And you're obviously drawing this assumption on good information? Oh,
you're pulling it out of your ass? Sorry, the basis by which you are
drawing your assertions is generally consider to be without any merit
whatsoever.
> treasures that were someone else's trash, you might say. In years
> past, before computer, and other vintage electronics, collecting
> became fashionable, some of us were able to spend less than US$100 and
> fill up a large station wagon with all sorts of computers, plus a few
> bits of Heathkit equipment, various electronic components, some audio
> stuff with tubes (valves), and then come home to find lots more
> interesing old computer finds lurking for-sale on Usenet, often for
> the cost of shipping.
And this is no longer possible because of the VCF? And of course you've
attended all five Vintage Computer Festival events, and you obviously know
from personal observation that the VCF is responsible for your perceived
decline in the ability to obtain vintage computer hardware at what you
would consider to be reasonable prices?
Excuse me, but if ever there was a moment when "foul" language was
acceptable, it has to be at this moment when I tell you that you are a
fucking moron.
> We didn't collect just for the sake of collecting or squirreling away
> equipment, for future profit, to complete a "collection," etc. We
> collected to have more fun toys to take apart, examine, repair,
> restore and hack.
What in the VCF charter leads you to believe that it promotes the
"squirreling away" of computers for "future profit"? Where on the VCF
website did you read this?
> I sense that this group is composed of two different groups of people,
> who still have something in common - a desire to obtain and preserve
> older equipment. We just have differnt ideas as to how we go about
> it, the "serious collectors" and shelf-liners who are more interested
> in history and unmodified equipment verses the hackers who preserve
> equipment through curiosity, tinkering and reverse engineering and are
> responsible for the actual preservation of working systems. The
> former go around thinking "what's it worth" the later "neat, a new toy
> to hack!" I could expand upon this further, but I haven't the time
> tonight, alas.
No, you obviously have plenty of time, since you manage to contribute your
obnoxious blather at a rather depressing rate. What you don't have is: a)
an argument, b) a clue, and c) any perceivable social graces.
> Perhaps we can have a discussion here about this without it turning
> into a flamefest.
That would only be possible if you would refrain from contributing to such
a discussion.
> All that said, I think that there's still probably much more that we
> agree about regarding older computers than we disagree about, and,
No, I think I pretty much disagree with everything you utter. I would not
ever want to be associated with you in any way whatsoever.
> while I don't like some things about VCF, I think that in some ways
> it's been quite beneficial to computer preservation, particularly from
Oh, do you think?
> a historical perspective, as it helps to draw people together with a
> common interest who can share their knowledge of various machines, so,
> you see that I have mixed feelings about VCF, not all good, not all bad.
What you are interpreting as "mixed feelings" are in fact the multitude of
voices in your head that compel you to spew such annoying blather in such
a compellingly depressing manner.
> I see and understand your perspective; can you see and understand
> mine?
I don't think that's possible.
Mr. Davis, I mean it with the utmost of compassion when I say to you, shut
the fuck up. You are an ass.
Sellam International Man of Intrigue and Danger
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking for a six in a pile of nines...
VCF 4.0 is September 30-October 1
San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California
See
http://www.vintage.org for details!
Received on Wed Oct 11 2000 - 23:05:11 BST