Anyway, that is not the real issue here, is it?
The real issue is whether or not Altium is trying to pull a fast one with respect to its loyal DXP Customers, and I believe that I have presented a fairly level headed case for the fact that they are, and it appears that your only response is that I am "Rude".
It is the essence of rudeness to impute evil motive without strong evidence. One being polite would still, properly, point out acts or plans of action on the part of another that are perceived as harmful without namecalling or other personal denigrations.
The topic (the "real issue") Mr. Smith is pursuing, by his admission here, is the alleged bad character of Altium. For most of the rest of us, the topic of interest is the advisability and effect of Altium actions and our responses. Allegations of bad character, in the absence of both proof *and* necessity, are destructive of open communication.
I think that Altium may have made some poor decisions. (And that they have also done a lot of things right.) My approach to this is to discuss the apparent decision with my friends, including my friends at Altium, whom I know read what I wrote even when they don't respond. This is, I think, a very different approach than charges of bad faith, greed, stupidity. If someone *is* guilty of these things, it usually doesn't do much good to try to rub their noses in it, that doesn't even work well with dogs. Human beings tend to resent it, and to pretty much ignore everything you have to say, even if there is value in it.
Mr. Smith appears to think that he, single-handedly, forced Altium to retract the ATS program and return to the prior free-support-for-a-time, upgrade-at-will program. My own recollection is that there was a lot of negative comment on ATS, some hot-headed, some cooler and hopefully cogent, and a little, very little, support for ATS. Altium made their decision, no one forced them into it. Altium appears to be capable of making a decision, then changing their minds. That's a very positive trait as long as it does not turn into serious lack of ability to make decisions.
I think that Altium could develop better communication with the users so that there would be less need for such public reversals, i.e., they would know in advance, before committing to a new direction, how the users felt about it and would react. More is coming on this.... but the DXP Forum, in particular, is already functioning in that direction, with improved and more open communication. I just think we could take it all to a new level.
But accusations of bad faith can really gum up the process. Sometimes it is necessary to expose bad faith. Usually, however, suspicions of bad faith are better left unspoken, not only because of the destructive effect they can have on communication, but also for the harm they can do to the reputation of the accuser, who often ends up looking like a crank or worse. *even when the accusations are true*.
I sympathize with Mr. Smith. I remember the early days of computer conferencing on the W.E.L.L. I moderated a forum there and was an active participant in many others. I remember being amazed at how the record could clearly show that, for example, one member had clearly slandered another; and if the victim complained bitterly, he ended up looking bad, obsessed, even if everything he was writing was true. It used to drive me crazy.
Most people will not go back and read the record. Rather, they form opinions based on impressions, often on impressions of the mood they perceive in a writer.
My friend used to tell me "my wife is driving me crazy." I'd say, "She can't be doing that, you're already crazy." He'd laugh and then we could talk about what was actually happening. He was a rather well-known psychotherapist....
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
