Hi Kevin,

>Hmmm....reminds me of a quote from Cato...."Anger so clouds the mind, that it cannot perceive the truth." :)

I am pretty sure you got the intention just like the other two commenters ;-)

>Look, back in 2004 Whil came up here and made a long post about his view of things. I think that if someone says something in public (or online), others have a right to ask questions.

Freedom of speech is one thing. From my POV there is a latent expectancy in the US that "questions have to be answered" much higher than in the old world - probably stemming from differences in the style of TV journalism.

>It was also stated that Whil does a great deal for the VFP community - I've asked for some information on what Whil has done outside of commercial venues.

Why outside commercial venues / purely pro bono ? You leave out a large areas like taking the risky road, working for returns lower than pure client work, working an allnighter for peanuts instead of chasing chicks.

>Maybe he's done a great deal and I'm just unaware of it, I don't know, so that's why I'm asking.

But you are asking and also critizizing the some of the answers: I have no direct knowlegde, so gave my take from afar. Others were involved closer, stated their impression (for instance half a year of work after the decision to leave arrived at was prudent and not a spiteful act or their take on the emotional attitude during that period). That is part of what I meant with "no *demonstrably* correct answer". Why ask if you think you have to rate part of the answers or know better than some directly involved ?

"Das [gesellschaftliche] Sein bestimmt das Bewusstsein" (the physical/material shapes the mental) was one of Marx' not totally wrong ideas. If you are working for compensation in a particular branch with somebody and have pride in your work or are just close friends it is possible that some perceptions are slanted a bit: both Craig and Doug never tried to hide their working connection. I freelance currently quite a bit for a company Rainer owns part of [but *not* in the part Rainer is directing and don't think I am cut out to be an author<g>]. I sometimes mention the fact that I know Rainer from way back to make clear where I am coming from and to give a frame of reference for those not knowing.

I think such a connection does not invalidate anything posted: to assume that any business connection makes an answer invalid/leads to ulterior motives gives IMHO too much weight to Marx' idea not lessened in any way by the concept of "enlightened self-interest" ;-)

regards

thomas