Replies

> I’ve been reading your posts and see that you are pretty even handed about the Apple/PC debate.

Thanks. I have no axe to grind, no stock in any of the companies, no long-term brand loyalties. I try everything, and prefer that which does my tasks the best, as judged by me. I admit to a mild historical bias towards Unix. If you haven't already done so you can check my profile page disclaimer.

I deeply enjoy reasonable discussions of the pros and cons of the various hardware and software. I love learning things from other FReepers whose experience is different from mine. I don't like flamewars and do my best to avoid them, or to calm them when unavoidable.

> Your stepping in when the resident Apple trolls act up would be appreciated. It’s been worse than ever recently.

Actually I've been doing that for quite a while, and I think Swordmaker will attest to that. And when I post a thread of my own, I have taken to formally requesting that trolling and namecalling be left aside so that we can have some civil discourse.

I dislike -all- such misbehavior. The recent huge increase in anti-Apple trolling finally exceeded my puke threshold. I've bailed on a lot of threads because it's just not worth my time. I'm 58, and I may only live to 90 or so. ;-)

Of course, anti-Microsoft trolling happens too, but not as much. I don't know why, but speculate it's partly because there's no "Windows Ping List" (which is a shame IMO), and partly because Apple is The-Company-to-Bash these days because they're on an upswing and and Microsoft has not been for a while.

I've found that certain folks who are clearly partisan can nonetheless be engaged in reasonable conversation. I prefer to attempt that, when it appears possible and worthwhile.

I've mostly stopped trying to reply to those who are so clearly partisan that they can't see what they're doing. And those folks are found in all camps -- no side has a monopoly on fanaticism.