Posted by img on January 26, 2000 at 07:50:56 in 12.75.151.103 :
In Reply to: Re: Here here - or is it hear hear? posted by James Pepper on January 26, 2000 at 06:08:05:
Well, I see there's been more exchanges as I was composing this so now I have to edit. To be honest, I was extremely offended at your assumptions about my
motives. And your comment "you don't like it, too bad" was unnecessary, but I understand your point of view now. You saw what we were doing and panic set in
because you saw this as a threat to your access. That wasn't our intention at all. And after reading Doug's response, I also have to say that yes, I AM jealous
dammit! OK? There. I admitted it. Anyway, here's the heavily edited response:
I did not suggest that we barge in and use "high handed" tactics to get them to release them and neither did Doug. I had no idea what the situation there was. When I
suggested a letter writing campaign, I did not mean that we should deluge them with emails demanding they release the info in the name of TMA. I just thought that
we might be able to persuade them to allow some of the info to be preserved via film or whatever. I think I made it clear that we probably didn't have much of a
chance, but it might be worth a try. Obviously I was wrong and I'm sorry.
It would NOT have been without your participation or approval, which I also thought was clear, as my questions/comments were addressed to you. I would not and
will not do anything jeopardize your access. Like I said, your cataloging of them is an important contribution and will be useful if they turn up elsewhere.
But it begs the question: If they are indeed in that bad of shape, what good will they be to anyone when they are beyond repair? How much time is left before they
are pulp?
I absolutely respect copyrighted materials and understand their purpose. But I'm not familiar with the law regarding expirations of copyrights, and assumed that by
now the Engineering journals were considered public domain just as are many old music recordings. If I'm wrong (which I must be), then no, they should not be
published here.
As far as my other comments, I should admit that I too have some stuff that is "sensitive" and I have agreed not to let them out, so I could be considered guilty of the
things I accused others of. What I have is not unique or original though. Just difficult/expensive to obtain. What bothers me is that it's such a shame that much of the
truly one of a kind stuff is sitting in a safe somewhere. In my example of the specification book, I just wish the person would put it in book form and charge what they
want. I would buy it even if they charged a fortune! But it does no one any good locked away. I'm NOT suggesting that they just give it out freely. Then again, there
is stuff that is of almost no interest to the general public, but is invaluable to a small group like us, but for whatever reason is still kept secret. It doesn't make a whole
lotta sense.
That's it. I've got to go to bed. I hope it's all settled.