CompuServe Messages

I've seen a lot of the UseNet flames. It's nearly impossible to manage the UseNet traffic via CIS EMAIL; and $28/hr access charges for long distance is considerably more than we feel UseNet is worth. We have decided to stick with the commercial networks; people on them seem, in general, to provide a lot lower noise content in their messages – probably because they have to pay for the services. Note that our policies were modified just about the time those power supply and disk update issues were raised… and that was a great example of stupid messages over there – we mentioned that we would charge $10 for a disk update – some twerp flamed us because he didn't think it cost us that much to make a disk. What we charge is our own business, of course. In any case, we won't be dealing with usenet any more, in any fashion. Mark, one thing – I don't mind critisism. When it's on the ball, I try and adjust right away. Sometimes I stew for a few days, and *then* I adjust. :^) When it's not on the ball, like virtually all of the usenet messages (with the exception of the Euro user with the power supply and update complaints, which we addressed immediately) I can not only take it, I normally take the time to tell reasonable critics what I think, and often I'll take an UNreasonable critic and rip them into theor compnent molecules. :^) I like it, in fact. As for critisizing other developers – I am a peer, and I feel I have every right to make any such statement I please. You may then respond as you feel appropriate. I NEVER flame a developer for the "heck of it", and I try not to do it "offhand", either. The ToasterPaint comments were anything but offhand – I've been living, eating, and breathing paint issues for months now, and I have a substantial backround in image processing from previous efforts. I meant what I said, and I still feel that way. It's a *very* poor effort, and I hope it's just a stopgap, because that's all I see it being worth.