Kevin,

Yes, I saw your reply right after responding to Craig, and I did not feel it was necessary to make a further response. Since you press me on it, I'll continue a little further. I started with a very focused response to you about you apparent misunderstanding of the definition of "accost". Do you acknowledge any error on your part about this?

I understand quite well about the general sentiments of the VFP community as to Microsoft's "position" (or lack thereof) on VFP. I endorse the general spirit of John's (et al's) bold question to Bill Gates. But he (they) blew it completely with the first sentence. That is just an example of what I mean about being his own worst enemy.

Aside from this "stylistic" criticism, I have a deeper problem with the carefully prepared question that John posed to Bill Gates. Perhaps it was bold enough at the time, but today I would ask how is it that Microsoft touts itself as being responsive to its customers, and yet so completely fails to respect our request for better marketing of VFP. Please spare me the usual bogus arguments - I'm talking about FREE marketing, like mentioning VFP in the Microsoft Partners Newsletter, and elsewhere in Microsoft's own web sites and publications. Yes, it is understood that VFP is not a central part of Microsoft's corporate strategy, but is this observation really responsive to my question?

Mike

>Michael,
>
>"Unless it was planned by a group of 500,000 VFP developers, I maintain that it was a very poor choice of words. I assume that no one, least of all JVP, needs instruction on taking responsibility for what he says."
>
>PMFJI, but please check out the response I just posted.
>
>I was at the DevCons in the mid-late 1990's when there were very bad feelings about the famous InfoWeek article, all the statements that were coming from MS Sales people who were quoted as saying things like "VFP? I've heard we're discontinuing that. You should work in VB and Access", etc. There were countless posts on the electronic forums about petitions, and if I recall, someone even suggested to organize a class-action suit or something. Obviously, that last one is pretty much 'out there', but it accurately characterizes the frustration of the VFP people.
>
>John tried to set the record straight. He asked a question that needed to be asked.
>
>Go back and read the actual question that John asked. There were a large number around that timeframe who wanted to ask the same question.
>
>Kevin