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>I can't help but wonder why JVP spends so much time and effort on UT trying to convince the VFP community at large that .NET is the right way to go.
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>If you think that is what I am primarily doing - then with all due respect - you are not reading very closely. I am not trying to convince you of anything. Rather, I am simply providing another point of view. My POV specifically counters the "all is rosey and fine" POV. Indeed, .NET is a good alternative. But so is Java/Linux. Suggesting to check out and evaluate .NET - IMO - does not amount to evangelizing. And - if I interpret your comment correctly, if I were evangelizing just Fox - you would be fine with that.
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>The purpose of places like this is not to evangelize a particular product. Rather, the purposes of places like this is to have a conversation. And - the good/productive conversations are ones that are not so one sided.
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>Quick question - how is the message to suggest checking out .NET any different than suggesting people check out VFP?

John,
I have no problem with you expressing your POV on UT concerning whatever is on your mind. I absolutely fine with you evangelizing just fox, just .net, the right tool for the job, your own political views, or even religious views, though this is probably not an appropriate forum for some of the above. I am free to take what is said with however many grains of salt I wish. I can accept it, agree with it, disagree with it, learn from it, respond to it or ignore it, whatever. I am not of the opinion that all is rosy and fine with VFP. I do think as a programmer it is a good idea to expand your skills and to keep up with current technologies. Is VFP in as good of a position as it was in the 1990’s? NO, but VFP has never been in the mainstream or widely marketed, yet is has survived and has been used to create numerous very powerful applications that still remain in use after many years, some many versions out of date, yet still serving the user reliably and economically. I also believe that VFP is still a viable tool that has many strong points for developing applications and am glad that new versions are being released and it is “supported until 2010” even after all these years of the prophets of doom proclaiming that FoxPro is dead. It is truly amazing that it has survived as well as it has for all these years with all the marketing neglect and FUD.

I primarily use this venue to obtain solutions to programming problems and get answers to questions concerning using VFP. I think that is why most of us are here. I read many of your posts and have actually gleaned some useful information, but I also notice how quickly many of the threads that you are involved in degrade to useless noise, not always because or your message but many times the tone. John, from what I observe, you seem to enjoy pushing the buttons of some of the more volatile, emotionally charged people who respond to your posts just for the thrill of the argument. Maybe that is why you have chosen a career in law. That quality will probably serve you well.

Perhaps I should have said I can't help but wonder why JVP spends so much time and effort on UT preaching that all is NOT rosy and fine with VFP and its market is shrinking. I think most if not all here really KNOW that message. If it were me, my time and effort would be better spent providing solutions to programming issues and answering the technical questions that most people come here for as my contribution to the community, rather than repeating the same editorial message time after time, generating pointless arguments. But then I find better things to do than indulge in debating and arguing points not worth my time and effort.