In a message dated 1/25/01 6:10:54 PM, dereksmi@... writes: Even though I feel this is an important reply, this still can be considered X-FB. But I feel in a recent post, there was major disrespect dished out to Larry. This one is in defense of Larry. Larry has every right to voice concern, he is a paying customer, just like everyone else. Long live $ & ! # $, Go Larry! Go! >I feel like jumping in here since I am possibly the number one hater of >those stupid symbols. I personally find them very useful. The ability to use these symbols would be, what I think, is an advantage that FutureBASIC has over C. But even so, I won't call DIM AS stupid. >I think what has happened is that you got left behind while the rest of >the programming world moved on. There are plenty of good reasons that >C and its decendants do not have type identifiers attached to variable >names. Otherwise, it would not have happened. This sounds like a forceful statement here, with the sole purpose of putting FUD into our minds. Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt. Since we are using FUD tactics, lets try some other FUD statements and see how they sound. "I think what happened is that Mac users got left behind while the rest of computer users in the world moved on to Windows" and here is one closer to home, "I think what happened is that FutureBASIC users got left behind while the rest of the programming world moved on to CodeWarrior" and to get really personal, "I think what happened is that people who buy Lost Minds games got left behind while the rest of the gaming world moved on to Ambrosia Software" Just because they do it, doesn't mean it is better. That is why I use Mac. That is why I use FutureBASIC. >Yes, you got us Larry, we are all a bunch of identifier nazis spreading >anti-symbol propaganda. Give me a break. It must be all that coding for >the man. Its robbed me of independant thought. I couldn't possibly have >come to the conclusion that symbols are crappy all by myself. >I say their use lacks merit. There are a lot more than 5 primitive >variable types. At what point do the symbols become burdens to >remember? 5? 10? 15? I can clearly see FUD here. Derek singles out Larry, making it seem he is a single sheep with a problem, AND HE IS NOT FOLLOWING EVERYONE ELSE, and he should be shamed for "Thinking Different". I would consider this disrespect to Larry. Lets look at this burden theory. Derek must have a very bad memory or is very lazy, and to hide this, he picks on Larry, making all efforts to make Larry change to Derek's preferences. Some of us FutureBASIC users 'Symbol" and some of us "DIM AS". Free country, program accordingly. And the rest of the email goes to make Larry out to be ridiculous, retarded, stubborn and different. I know Larry isn't the first 3, and I am glad he is different. Keep on rockin' New keyword for Derek, RESPECT Please show Larry enough respect not too flame him up and smear him all around. Best, Matthew Beedle Foxchange Software http://www.foxchange.com