#C=A and Timothy Leary
9 messages in this thread
Sure, I'll throw in a penny's worth. First, I find it interesting that you are
receiving "strongly worded mail from Commodore users…", apparently in what
you consider a significant statistical percentage, while here in the AmigaForum
I recall no discussion whatsoever of Leary's activities, pro, con, or
otherwise. Care to upload these "vehemently worded" letters to our DLs here so
we can all discuss this intelligently?
I find it difficult to believe that anyone of rational mind would "boycott C/A
for further purchases" simply because a package connected with a disliked
personality was released by the company in question. Again, I would like to
see some of these statements "in print".
My comment, then, is this: No comment… until substantiated facts are provided
which support what reads remarkably like hyperbole.
By the way, you'll want to retract your "All the folks I've talked with so far
have said they wouldn't buy the package just because Leary's name would be on
it", since I see there are some people in this thread willing to judge the
program on its own merits, rather than condemning it because of its origins.
Merry Christmas.
Rick
Rick,
The point of asking for comments from users on this forum is to balance the
ORIGINAL comments I received. I continue to be amazed that some people
complain about the lack of "fair" press coverage but then complain when they
are asked for offsetting comments.
My message was posted here in an attempt to gather information that would be
presented to OLT readers. I could just have easily have printed only the
anti-Leary, anti-C=A mail I received.
We seem to have veered off the original question and ended up, instead, on
another subject. FOr those who must think I get a kickback from CIS just to
stir up forum traffic, I don't. I also don't work for them.
-Jim
Jim,
What I think Jim is saying is that since we are not seeing anything
like the kind of responses that you have received over Usenet here in the
AmigaForum, that we would kind of like to see what the arguments of the people
leaving the "boycottiing CBm" type messages have been. Do you have a problem
with sharing these messages with us? Feel free to strip out any information
that you feel may damage the sender.
-John
John,
The Easyplex messages were meant to be private so the sources must remain
anonymous. However, a number of forum users have said the same thing (unless
they've removed their responses).
I'm afraid this continues to be a controversy over sources rather than a
response to those messages. I have plenty of folks who have said, in effect,
"I don't like Leary" but few who have said "Leary's involvement doesn't bother
me." Most responses, so far, to the anti-Leary folks have been "Why are you
checking this story, who are your sources and why do you write lies?" Although
these may be legitimate questions, they should probably be moved to something
like the journalism forum or addressed to me via EPX.
Thanks for your comments.
-Jim
Jim,
I just realized that I hadn't stated my reaction to the fact that Leary is
working on Amiga software. This is understandable because I think the issue was
more the reaction and proposed action of a small number of people. Anyway, my
reaction is. "Oh.. how about that." <yawn>
Regards, Larry.
In response to your original question, I have not heard any of these rumors
before. I, for one, would be interested in looking at any program of this sort
that Dr Leary came up with. I doubt if it would be interesting, probably a
psychology today type of amateur thing, but I would look to see if it were more
interesting. The Amiga was touted by CBM at one time as the "imagination"
machine or something similar. I can see why Leary would be interested in this
most interesting of computers, he is an imiginative man.
Are you or OLT in the business of printing opinions as news, or would you like
some real stories? If you'd hang around the Forum a little bit, I'm sure your
reporter's nose could find a few real stories, instead of the muck- and
rumor-raking we're known you to do. You keep a clip file of your articles, no?
Perhaps you could post the OLT stories on Commodore you've done in the past,
and we could comment on them. My favorite is the one where "Commodore recalls
operating system for Amiga." How many people remember that big news event?
Jim – the problem is that no one has seen, here, any such thing… I have never
seen a message here that mentioned Mr. Leary, and only vagely recall seeing it
mentioned in some magazine – and that only because he's _such_ an a** that it
stuck a little bit. Also, the story(s?) you did that claimed the 4th machine
(Amiga) and the '030 and so on were, if not simply untrue, then certainly
minimally backed by facts, and _totally_ irresponsible. There is a feeling, not
without some justification, that the Amiga is _the_ most advanced machine on
the market today; When a story appears that is damaging to the potential sales
of the machine, you have to expect those here, at least, to get upset. We all
want the machine to succeed, and respond emotionally to things that are
detrimental to that trend, _especially_ if they are without foundation – as
virtually the entire forum has concluded about that story(s?). That's the basis
for the hostility here – you have been a subject of some considerable
discussion here more than once. We just want the machine to get a fair chance,
which is a forlorn hope, but there it is. How about a story going into the
machines _enormous_ superiority over the IBM trash? Or the ST? Or, if you're
chicken, a smaller machine? _That_ would certainly stir up your readership –
and has the additional fun characteristic of being true. <grin>. A story about
Leary is certainly a waste of good space… storys about rumors are also a
waste, and are damaging, too. –Ben–
James,
I seem to detect a tone of defensiveness in your message but, since we all know
how easy it is to misinterpret these messages, I'll not jump to that
conclusion. Perhaps you misinterpreted mine, perhaps not.
I have never complained to you or anyone else in our industry about the "lack
of 'fair' press coverage" about Commodore, Amiga, or any other system. Nor did
I "complain when… asked for offsetting comments". To whom you refer, I have
no idea.
You say we seem to have veered off the original question. If by "we" you mean
you and I, I most humbly disagree. You posted a message containing purported
comments from Amiga owners and asked for comments. I gave you my comment
which, repeated, is as follows:
I had seen no remarks of the type you quoted until you started this thread, and
I find it interesting, to say the least, that you would receive a significant
number of comments on anything Amiga while the same subject has not even been
mentioned here. As I hesitate to comment on hearsay, especially in a context
in which I might be quoted, I asked to see copies of the original messages to
you before doing so. (I did, in fact, give you an implied comment: that a
reasonable person would deem it foolish to boycott a company because of a
single disliked personality supporting one of the company's products.)
I fail to see how this is "veer[ing] off the original question." Sadly, though
you are welcome to reply to this message it will be rhetorical, as I am leaving
now for nonode land to spend the holidays with my family and will not be back
until next year.
Again, Merry Christmas.
Rick