[Way OT!] Re: [cobalt-users] Change Telnet welcome msg

["Nico Meijer" <cobalt-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi again Colin,

Again, being Dutch and having some knowledge of the Dutch market, maybe I
can shed some light on the happenings between Peter and Johan.

> My response was based upon the insulting manner in which the comment was
> made by Peter to Johan to begin with.

I can understand that and you are right that Peter's remark was inapropriate
(excuse my French). It either a) shouldn't have been made or b) should have
been made off list.

OTOH, I can somewhat understand Peter's sentiments, probably. You would have
to have some knowledge of what goes around in The Netherlands where
hosting/webdesign etc. is concerned. Not that it would differ much from the
USA, but keep in mind that Holland is a *small* country.

As always, Holland runs a little behind on the USA. So right now, every
idiot (no pun intended towards you, Peter, Johan or *anyone* else on this
list!) who can type "<p>" starts a webdesign company. If you can also spell
"Linux", whoopie! You've got yourself a hosting company aswell! Put your
(Cobalt) server somewhere for about $50/month and you've got 'your own'
server farm with 'your own' flood protection, 'your own' UPS and what have
you not. I have made a comment on this a little while ago aswell.

I am no saint and have made some of the mistakes people nowadays are making.
But I have always tried to keep a low profile on it. Today, people are
screaming it out, while real knowledge is almost zilch. On the one hand, I
have a very big problem with that kind of behaviour as it p*sses me off
bigtime. I have spent so much time and money on learning the trade to be
able to back up what I say and am still investing bigtime in getting the
stuff right. On the other hand, most will not succeed, which means more
business for me. ;-)

Again, I am not saying that either Peter or Johan are the kind of people
"without knowledge". I will be asking stupid rsync questions pretty soon,
for instance. Guilty as charged.

My first mental reaction to Johan's questions (not just this one) on this
list was somewhat in the line of what Peter has actually typed and sent out.
I have learned in the past to control myself in these situations and not to
hit Ctrl-R instantly.

Unbeknownst to Johan, I have had to do with him/his company. Nothing
spectacular and it was a one way stinch. Let's just say that a certain type
of canned meat was involved. I am strictly veggie in more than one way.
Perhaps it's not exactly good practice, but that colors my viewpoint; I
can't help that.

It is hard to be as open towards either Johan or Peter as I would be towards
anyone else, knowing that they're direct competition. It is much safer to
help someone in the US than it is to help a Dutch person.

My guess is that this is what drove Peter to his uttering. So, even though I
disapprove, I can understand. Luckily, there were enough posts to help Johan
out.

> I detest with a passion those who
> scorn the lack of knowledge in others and that IMO, was the context in
> which Peter made the remark.

I agree with you, but it also can drive me absolutely nuts when people are
asking questions to which the answers are so easy to find. I just keep my
mouth shut and the feeling goes away. Just like the time you made a remark
on my Voodoo/PHP thingie. Okay, okay, the thingie *was* kinda lame! ;-)

See you... Nico