Re: Those "home hobbyists..." (was: No call for Ada)

["Warren W. Gay VE3WWG" <warren@ve3wwg.tk>]

"Larry Kilgallen" <Kilgallen@SpamCop.net> wrote in message
news:Bh2UPd8LMBWg@eisner.encompasserve.org...
> In article <M95%b.8327$ee3.380889@news20.bellglobal.com>, "Warren W. Gay VE3WWG"
<warren@ve3wwg.tk> writes:
> > Larry Kilgallen wrote:
> >> In article <70vZb.116$nd2.3561@news20.bellglobal.com>, "Warren W. Gay VE3WWG"
<warren@ve3wwg.tk> writes:
> >>>Larry Kilgallen wrote:
> >>>>In article <naNYb.6433$Cd6.542558@news20.bellglobal.com>, "Warren W. Gay VE3WWG"
<warren@ve3wwg.tk> writes:
> >>>>>It would be useful to have such an Open Sourced version of the same
> >>>>>(or a flavour of GNAT). It could then be used as a bootstrap
> >>>>>compiler for GNAT on new platforms. You would of course have to
> >>>>>do a lot of Ada runtime library support at the C level as well,
> >>>>>but for a bootstrap compiler, this could be minimized I think.
> >>>>
> >>>>For bootstrapping purposes, the compiler need not be open source,
...
> > OK, I thought my point was obvious: either it isn't or
> > you're just being a troll ;-)
...

Your following statement deserves some comment (I'll forgo the prior
discussion for expediency in this thread):

> Sometimes I get the feeling this newsgroup is populated exclusively
> by home hobbyists...

Ouch. This speaks on so many levels:

 - this is your "feeling" (sometimes)
 - this must be one of _those_ times
 - I am responsible for it (or something else triggered it)
 - that this newsgroup is _dominated_
 - by _those_ people (home hobbyists)
 - any self respecting person would not want to be one of
   _those_ people

Ouch.

Just what is a "home hobbyist"????

Definition: (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=37364&dict=CALD)
hobby
noun [C]
an activity which someone does for pleasure when they are not working:
Ben's hobby is restoring vintage motorcycles.

hobbyist
noun [C] MAINLY US
someone who does something as a hobby:
a computer hobbyist


I find it interesting that the dictionary writers chose
"a computer hobbyist" in the definition's example.

Now of course a "hobbyist" must be OK, because I'll bet you have
a hobby or two (and surely you are self respecting).

So there must be something about a _home_ hobbyist... hmmmm...
lemme seeee... could you be saying that a "home hobbyist" is, um

  - a non-professional?
  - unskilled?
  - unworthy?

Quite a statement.

Please remember that a large number of folks enjoy engineering
software in the hours away from the office. The office is
not always conducive to creative expression ;-)  Not everyone
can land research grants and situations to "follow their dreams".

Just because "those people" also contribute to the community
via "open source", does not make them unskilled, or
the "axis of evil". It certainly does not mean that they nothing
to contribute. And certainly, contributing to this group is not
a negative thing?  In fact, I seem to recall a few posts over
the last couple of years, where people seemed to be
encouraged by the increased level of participation here.

I would add that even for those that do not have an IT career
by day, that they too still have something to contribute. They may
face a steeper climb in some cases, but I think that news groups
like this one can be of great assistance to them. They can also
inspire us, because they can have fresh ideas that are not squashed
by our years of being kicked around the block and doing the
same old thing.

So if you are calling me an "home hobbyist" because you feel
I lack experience or skill, then you surely don't know me. If you
feel that others, which are those "home hobbyists",
shouldn't be participating here, then I think this says a lot
about your charitable nature.  I sure don't see any "domination"
going on here, but maybe that is just me.

Overall, I think your statement is just plain sad.
-- 
Warren W. Gay
http://home.cogeco.ca/~ve3wwg