Okay, I realize I'm very late to the party on this thread ( yeah, have a life outside programming and haven't been here for a while < g > ) but this got a reaction from me :
>You seem to be making the assumption that all VFP developers are like us - making heavy use of the internet to keep abreast of current developments in the field.
>
>I believe that it's pretty well accepted that such is not the case. I've seen estimates that range between (only) 10% - 20% of the VFP developer population - those who would constitue "the community" - who actually do augment their VFP skills through the internet. These other people seem to operate on the basis that they have a life outside of their jobs.
>
>These people will learn about VFP9 when it is released. These people may not know what a bookmark is or their bookmarks may relate to leisure interests rather than job interests.
>These people obviously have ONLY the standard VFP documentation as their reference for details regarding VFP. These people don't read MSKB articles to learn the "extra details" (i.e. "working as designed" answers with added information to explain) or the "How to..." articles.
>
>I think it would be unfair to categorize such people as unmotivated individuals who likely write only po-dunk applications on a 9-5 basis. <<
SET RANT ON
I don't know about the podunk apps or 9-5 thing but they are definitely unskilled at efficient use of their time and ways to make the most money for the least effort. Not taking advantage of resources that are available - FREE no less - represents ignorance or sloth. If they worked for me, I'd fire them. If they worked for themselves, they deserve to go out of business.
Being a professional is a far cry from being a fanatic. I can't imagine any person expecting to make a decent living either as an independant or an employee just been too ignorant or lazy to make some effort to find out things beyond the Users Guide that ships with a product.
Even more, I think it offends me for its shear lack of intellectual curiosity.
SET RANT OFF
Charles Hankey
Though a good deal is too strange to be believed, nothing is too strange to have happened.
- Thomas Hardy
Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm-- but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.
-- T. S. Eliot
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.
- Ben Franklin
Pardon him, Theodotus. He is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.
