CompuServe Messages

I agree completely that language should be kept polite at all times. I have occasionally seen rude exchanges on the various forums, and you are correct in your observations. On the other hand, a simple statement that one will regretfully decline to purchase a product, whatever its merits, if that product contains a copy protection scheme, is not rude: it's a statement of fact. To make a stronger statement (along the lines of, 'those Disney people are a bunch of morons if they think we're gonna put up with…') is unnecessary and unproductive. I would disagree with you, though, if what you mean is that we should say "Gee, we wish you didn't have copy protection" and leave it at that, because that would not do an adequate job of conveying the absolute unacceptability of copy protecting productivity software. The message has to be definite: there are a large number of people who will wait for the removal of copy protection prior to purchase.