on Peter Kupfer said the following:
Steve Kopischke wrote:I think you're missing a point here. One of the other posters on this thread indicated that the method of performing some relatively common action (please forgive my vagueness, but I don't recall it) had changed from one earlier version to another.
> Relabeled, repackaged software that has, *as its genesis*, OOo, is *not*
OOo. As I indicated in an earlier post, how can we tell what changes have been made in between OOo as downloaded from OO.o and its mutation into whatever has been repackaged? Even if there are *no* changes, how are we to tell?
It's not tricky. I have told you I own the software, and it says OOo, it is the exact same installer and files that were downloaded. PPP is just an overall package that includes OOo as one program. Similar to the fact that you can buy Word or MS Office that includes Word. In both cases, Word is the same thing.
I knew I should have put those paragraphs after my sarcastic hyperbole.... Which is going to irritate and turn off a new user more? "Go away, we can't help you" or "Here's how to do what you want to do..." when the latter is wrong and could possibly cause a loss of data?Our collective, first response to such a request ought to be "have you contacted the vendor?" It should *not* be - "welcome aboard, how can we help?"
There are a couple of posters who advocate helping them anyway. I do not think this is a good idea. It's not that we *can't* help PPP users. How can we be sure our advice is accurate?
So, someones in trouble, you think you know CPR, but you haven't practiced in a while, you can watch them die or you can try and help. Which is it?
Surely good Samaritan laws will cover us helping PPP users.
I pose the questions because I don't know the answer, not because I assume I'm right.
(See my first sentence in the previous section. You used the same technique of grammar.)Besides, if we do, where do we stop? Do we support *anything* that touches OOo? Windows XP? Mac OSX? Linux? What about printers? Mice? Browsers? Wireless keyboards? It's easier to see the dividing line when it is drawn so blatantly far away.
Honestly, I hope you realize there is a distinction between this case and Printer, Mice, etc...
If some still believe they ought to support PPP, go right ahead. We can't stop you, but please don't argue that it is the *right* thing to do. There are those of us who feel there are good reasons to feel otherwise.
In my opinion, if it's not OOo, this list is not the right support medium. I would hate to see the value of this list watered down.
So, a list where we reject anyone who buys software for more than $10 isn't water down?
Please....
Peter, are you missing or ignoring the sentence early in this message where I propose the first action is to ask the user if he/she has contacted their vendor first?
It's pretty clear to me that we have widely differing opinions amongst those of us posting to this thread. It's also pretty clear that the two ends of the spectrum are likely to continue to knock heads if we let this go on.
For me, I've said my piece too many times now and the storm can continue to rage without me.
oldgnome
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