Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!nigel.msen.com!well!jorge
From: jorge@well.sf.ca.us (Jorge Codina)
Subject: Re: BEAM Solar Engine "offer" apology
Message-ID: <CKDCs6.2t5@well.sf.ca.us>
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References: <CKA2H8.Ew3@cuug.ab.ca> <1994Jan28.151022.9816@news.media.mit.edu>
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 1994 02:12:06 GMT
Lines: 52

fredm@media.mit.edu (Fred G Martin) writes:


>In article <CKA2H8.Ew3@cuug.ab.ca> hrynkiwd@cuug.ab.ca (Dave Hrynkiw)
>writes:

>> Hi all.
>>        It's been brought to my attention that my "Pre-BEAM Olympics" offer
>>for a Solar Engine Component Kit & Instruction Guide crossed that fine line
>>between information & commercialism.

>I wholeheartedly disagree!  I don't know who must have wrote to you,
>Dave, but I think your post was perfectly okay, and if nothing else,
>this matter should be open for group discussion.  We roboticists still
>have are pretty small community, and this Internet group is an
>important channel of communication.  How else are we all going to
>learn of your endeavor if not through net-news?
> 

[...stuff deleted...]

> 
>>        Even tho, it still crossed that line.  Sorry - won't post another
>>advert again.
> 
>Dave, I hope you reconsider, and I also hope that this letter might
>provoke a discussion on this group and perhaps a consensus of some
>kind.  I guess it's obvious from the tone of this letter, but I'm
>pretty angry that some people evidently felt the need to step on Dave
>and quash his project.  We should be looking out for one another, not
>getting on our high horse and yelling at someone who is trying to make
>a little money while offering a service that enriches all of our work.
> 
>        -Fred
> 

I am in 100% agreement with Fred. Dave is providing a valuable service,
at least to me. If he hadn't posted on the net I never would have been
able to obtain the kits he has assembled. I live in Singapore and do
not work in robotics. To track down all of the various parts and designs
so that I can pursue my hobby is not practical. If it were not for 
people like Dave, Pankaj Oberoi and others I would not be able to build
robots.

I hope these people are making a profit. They deserve to.

Dave, PK, and  anyone else with a kit or usefull service to offer, please
post it.  I for one, appreciate the information.

--jorge


