Hello Peter

>I asked others whether they too think that Foxtalk has deterioriated, in number of articles and in quality. I once again ask your opinion. Moreover, if you agree, what do you think should be done about it?

I don't know about quality, or even number of articles, but since I have been co-authoring the Kitbox column ever since April 1998 I can assure you that nothing has changed in the Editorial policy as it filters down to us humble columnists.

However, it is certainly true that until the October 2002 issue Foxtalk was always 24 pages. Beginning in October 2002 it went to 20 pages and, I notice, that with effect from October 2003, it is down to 16 pages. Presumably less pages equates to less articles!

Why? I would assume that since the magazine relies heavily on 'submitted' articles (almost exclusively in fact - I think Kitbox is the only regular monthly item - other than the editorial of course) that the number of articles submitted for publication has dropped off.

The solution? People have to write more articles and submit them. I am sure that they will (assuming they meet the minimum standards of accuracy and technical content) be published, and they even pay for accepted articles. (I have also heard that FoxPro Advisor has also been struggling for quite some time to find people willing to write. So it may not be just a FoxTalk issue).

Now, this is a purely subjective thought, of course, but I have a growing feeling that the VFP community as a whole seems to be less willing than of old to 'give freely'. Seems to me that a lot of reliance is placed upon the willlingness of a few to do an awful lot (I mean where would we be without Sergey????)

Maybe the pressure of work is getting too high but even here, on the UT, it is not that uncommon to find people 'demanding' assistance - and even complaining when what they get doesn't immediately solve their every need - as if it were some sort of right! This would have been unheard of even a couple of years ago.

A community only survives as long as everyone is willing to give a little and the decline in the magazines may, I am afraid, be yet another indication that as the 'old guard' fall away (figuratively of course!) there is no longer a 'new guard' coming forward to accept the mantle. We can't expect the same people to go on writing the articles, speaking at conferences, answering questions on the forum for ever. There have to be some new people helping out - and of course there are some! Don't mistake me here, I am not complaining that no-one is doing it - it just seems that not enough people are willing to give it a go and too many are content to go on letting others carry the burden.

Just my $0.02c worth...