Open Office NOT FREEWARE?!

B

Blinky the Shark

Well, that's what we're being told -- that it's not freeware, and that
it's off-topic here, in a current thread that has the subject:

Financial Software Freeware and Abandonware

I think Open Office is an important (and good) piece of freeware as we
define freeware in alt.comp.freeware, and I'd hate to see this
discussion get buried in that thread -- which I think is happening
because the subject makes it look like it's only about someone looking
for "financial" freeware. It's not about that any more.

Can't move the discussion here, so I thought I'd just post a heads-up
under a more meaningful subject, and invite anyone with an interest in
this surprising news to check out the other thread.
 
B

Bebop & Rocksteady

Well, that's what we're being told -- that it's not freeware, and that
it's off-topic here, in a current thread that has the subject:

Financial Software Freeware and Abandonware

I think Open Office is an important (and good) piece of freeware as we
define freeware in alt.comp.freeware, and I'd hate to see this
discussion get buried in that thread -- which I think is happening
because the subject makes it look like it's only about someone looking
for "financial" freeware. It's not about that any more.

Can't move the discussion here, so I thought I'd just post a heads-up
under a more meaningful subject, and invite anyone with an interest in
this surprising news to check out the other thread.
Click to expand...

Err isn't OpenOffice OpenSource... and freeware... scratching head
Or have I missed something... I better go read that thread...


--
----------------------------------------
Quantum Illusions: http://quantum.2ya.com
Pegasus Mail Support Site: http://pegasus.quantum.2ya.com
Freeware Site: http://freeware.quantum.2ya.com
DATA Solutions: http://datasolutions.quantum.2ya.com

If you truly want to contact me click the link
http://quantum.2ya.com/email.htm
 
½

-½cut

Well, that's what we're being told -- that it's not freeware, and that
it's off-topic here, in a current thread that has the subject:
Click to expand...
Obviously the guy was wrong. Open Office is about as freeware as you
get, by any definitions of the word. And the fact that Open Office is
open source which -rather than disqualifying OE- makes it much more
likely to be freeware just makes the thread funnier.

HOWEVER

Didn't the guy humiliate himself in that thread enough that it needs to
be re-posted as a separate topic?
One thing I've noticed about this NG is that there seems to be a greater
emphasis on scoring points off people and less on helping people.
People make mistakes occasionally and it seems to me that information
(like pointing out why they're wrong and possibly links to further info)
would be better than the withering scorn that seems to be -if not the
norm- at least common enough to be a feature of this NG. Just my humble
opinion.

Oh yeah, while I'm having a rant, if I see one more "newbies should check
out my lovely FAQ" thread, I'm gonna barf, projectile style. I have a
bag ready, because I know it's gonna happen.
 
B

Bebop & Rocksteady

Oh yeah, while I'm having a rant, if I see one more "newbies should check
out my lovely FAQ" thread, I'm gonna barf, projectile style. I have a
bag ready, because I know it's gonna happen.
Click to expand...

"newbies should check out my lovely FAQ"

;-) just wanted to see you barf online... ;-)

Yes I am a sick person... but hey I gotta have a hobby :)


--
----------------------------------------
Quantum Illusions: http://quantum.2ya.com
Pegasus Mail Support Site: http://pegasus.quantum.2ya.com
Freeware Site: http://freeware.quantum.2ya.com
DATA Solutions: http://datasolutions.quantum.2ya.com

If you truly want to contact me click the link
http://quantum.2ya.com/email.htm
 
L

Lance M Hillier, Sr

B

Blinky the Shark

Obviously the guy was wrong. Open Office is about as freeware as you
get, by any definitions of the word. And the fact that Open Office is
open source which -rather than disqualifying OE- makes it much more
likely to be freeware just makes the thread funnier.
Click to expand...

It seems very purely freeware to me, too.
Didn't the guy humiliate himself in that thread enough that it needs to
be re-posted as a separate topic?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure where that thread is going. I have no crystal ball, and
readily admit it.
 
½

-½cut

No FAQ, but hope 1/2 cut doesn't barf at a great new site, with great
reviews from
The Freeware Book 12 at www.freewarearena.org
for (http://forum.stalkingsheep.co.uk/
see above, please)...

The Guerrilla Computor
Lance M Hillier, Sr
Click to expand...

Very kind of you to mention it, but I hope that isn't the URL that got
reviewed...that's just the forum. The freeware is at
http://freeware.stalkingsheep.co.uk/
....I couldn't find the review either. But it's late/early here and I'm not
really up to the complexities of search engines...
 
½

-½cut

I'm not sure where that thread is going. I have no crystal ball, and
readily admit it.
Click to expand...
No crystal ball needed. The guy posted a fairly silly comment and got
gang-banged. But avoiding my main point which is this:

Why was it necessary to post another thread about it just to score points
off the guy? I'm fairly sure that pretty well everyone in this NG (apart
from that one poster) knows that open source is more likely to be freeware
than closed source software. Anyone who doesn't know that soon will
because they will inevitably be referred to somebody's bloody FAQ or other.

Which leads me to my sub-point, which is "what is is about this NG that
makes scoring points off people more desireable than actually helping
them?" (and yes I know that I'm scoring points by writing this, but it
could be argued that I'm just getting into the swing of things).
Now I've only been here a week or two, but I can cite examples from my own
posts...and I'm sure that I'm not the only one.
 
B

Blinky the Shark

No crystal ball needed. The guy posted a fairly silly comment and got
gang-banged. But avoiding my main point which is this:
Click to expand...
Why was it necessary to post another thread about it just to score
points off the guy? I'm fairly sure that pretty well everyone in this
NG (apart
Click to expand...

I explained why I posted, in the post.

Acually, no Usenet posts are necessary.
from that one poster) knows that open source is more likely to be
freeware than closed source software. Anyone who doesn't know that
soon will because they will inevitably be referred to somebody's
bloody FAQ or other.
Click to expand...

That's what the FAQs are for, yeppers. Don't do much good if nobody's
ever pointed that way.
Which leads me to my sub-point, which is "what is is about this NG
that makes scoring points off people more desireable than actually
helping them?" (and yes I know that I'm scoring points by writing
this, but it
Click to expand...

I don't believe that's accurate, and I know you do. Since there's
nothing to be gained from arguing about it, I didn't address it in your
first post. Having given my opinion, here, I don't feel compelled to
argue about it, now, either.

But I'll give you a small statistic. GoogleGrouping on the phrase
"thanks blinky", in this group shows 184 hits. Sure some of theme are
repeats from requotes. It's still not a sign of disinterest in helping
people. Sure, it's a tiny sampling. Still...multiply it by the number
of us that have been here years - not weeks - and remember that it's not
like everybody says "thanks", and I don't think the picture that is
painted is quite the one you seem to perceive. Blinky out.
 
M

Max Quordlepleen

Well, that's what we're being told -- that it's not freeware, and
that it's off-topic here, in a current thread that has the
subject:

Financial Software Freeware and Abandonware

I think Open Office is an important (and good) piece of freeware
as we define freeware in alt.comp.freeware, and I'd hate to see
this discussion get buried in that thread -- which I think is
happening because the subject makes it look like it's only about
someone looking for "financial" freeware. It's not about that any
more.

Can't move the discussion here, so I thought I'd just post a
heads-up under a more meaningful subject, and invite anyone with
an interest in this surprising news to check out the other thread.
Click to expand...


A half-baked loon/troll is my guess, although, interestingly enough,
one can spell Ballmer from the letters of his posting handle. ;^)
 
B

Blinky the Shark

Max said:
A half-baked loon/troll is my guess, although, interestingly enough,
one can spell Ballmer from the letters of his posting handle. ;^)
Click to expand...

Priceless. :)
 
½

-½cut

Perhaps you'd rather see new people flood the group with off topic
posts about shareware, trialware, spyware, warez and the like.
Click to expand...
Why? Is that likely to happen?
I'm sorry that you don't like my F.A.Q.,
Click to expand...
Actually I do. It's helpful and informative. I don't necessarily agree
with all the definitions of what is freeware and what is and is not
appropriate to post in the NG, but the rest is pretty good. I like the
other FAQ too.
but you (like everybody else) certainly don't speak for the group.
Click to expand...
I don't claim to or have the slightest desire to speak for anyone but
myself. I get the distinct impression, however, that you are attempting
to speak for the group by means of repeatedly bludgeoning people with the
FAQ.
I know exactly what I'm doing here. 2 reasons:
1) I get a charge out of helping people. It's the same reason I maintain
a list, and the occasional "thank you" makes it worthwhile for me.
Matching people up with software or information that exactly solves
their problem (or as close as I can get) makes me feel good.
2) There's some storming software that passes through here, so I'm also
here to hoover the group for links to stuff that I haven't already got
covered.
The posts will continue. If you don't like my doing so, you can
killfile my messages. Don't you know how to do that or would you rather
just complain?
Click to expand...
Just complain, thanks, but I'm done now.
=:cool:
 
J

John Fitzsimons

On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 00:02:52 +1000, " Alan"

Just 2¢ worth on this, but isn't it fairly common practice for Usenet
groups to regularly "advertise" their FAQs (in anticipation of the faq:
"Where do I find the FAQ?" :))?
Click to expand...

You mean the first line of my sig isn't "advertising the FAQ" ? :)


Regards, John.

--
****************************************************
,-._|\ (A.C.F FAQ) http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html
/ Oz \ John Fitzsimons - Melbourne, Australia.
\_,--.x/ http://www.aspects.org.au/index.htm
v http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/
 
A

Alan

John said:
On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 00:02:52 +1000, " Alan"



You mean the first line of my sig isn't "advertising the FAQ" ? :)
Click to expand...

It *is* mentioning it subtley, which is good, but not "adversiting" it
as such in a Subject header, which a newbie might spot very readily.
Anyway, 6 of 1, ½ dozen of the other.
 
T

Tiger

Nothing bugs me more than poeple who adversit FAQs. }:O)
Click to expand...

Yeah, those poeple bug me too ;-)

--
Tiger

"If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but
precisely because I cannot do this, I must believe."
- Soren Kierkegaard
 

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