Hi Gang,

I promised some folks I would post this over here - and it is the right thing to do. For whatever reason - I got caught up in a heck of a flame war. No doubt that I should have taken a deep breath and thought more carefully about my choice of words. While from a technical standpoint - I still have the same view point - I could have expressed it in a better fashion. But at the same time - I have an understanding of some other valuable viewpoints.

This is what I posted on the DevX forum:

I posted that original message - I had the best of intentions.
Unfortunately - the choice of words - well - were not that great. Yes, I
have some rather purists believes about OO/OOP - and what constitutes what.
But - expressing those opinions should never come at the expense of how
people feel.

Things heated up very quickly - it was not a gradual process. So quickly in
fact - that things got out of control before I even realized. Now - all of
this is a two way street - and I took a far amount of shots. But, it began
with me - and I do believe that everybody must take responsibility for the
things that he/she does.

So, Zane, Kathleen, Phil, Craig,Jeffery, Deborah and yes Karl - and I am sure there a few
others that I have not specifically named - I know you were offended and/or
hurt by what I said - I don't have to ask. For this I am sorry. I did not
come here to attack you folks. Heck, I have never met any of you. I have no
reason to attack anybody. Yes - I got into the frenzy too - and I know if I
worded things better up front - none of this would have happened. To say you
are misguided, misinformed - and the like really was not fair as I have not
been privy to all of the discussions you all have had. That is not to say
that I have budged off of my believes of where VB stands in the OO/OOP
world. However, just as I should not attack any of you for the feelings and
beliefs you have - so too should'nt be attacked.

FWIW, in the mess - were some valuable exchanges and I did learn a lot -
which was a goal. However - the price for that was far to high - and one
that did not have to paid. I did get an undertanding of where the community
was comming from with respect to the issue - and It was one that I did not
have before.

As Jeff stated - this whole thing has been very much out of character for
me. I know that before I posted a single word - I should have taken a deep
breath - and thought about how others might interpret what I said. For not
doing that - I am truely sorry.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this.

Thanks,

< JVP >