In article <1174296326.494271.37...@o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, beamends

There is much that you have said that is correct - and much that is wrong,
both general and specific. What is correct should be taken to heart and put
right and you should be fairly, but strongly, tackled on the bits that may
mislead. Sadly that will not happen. It won't happen because anyone trying to
discuss such problems honestly will be publicly villified. In fact that's the
only real problem out of the whole lot; your quibbles *could* have been put
right had honest public criticism been allowable - and publicly countered if
you included unreasonable comments. As it is most developers work shut away
from the public because working in public just isn't worth the aggravation;
and some of the few that do risk it make sure they get their retaliations in
first - and that just escalates the problems.

The answer is simple. Use Usenet properly or don't use it at all - ie scrap
all csa.groups and portals and lists. If we are going to use it then answer
all questions politely; don't make attacks on individuals; don't criticise
products because you own a rival product; appreciate that in the RISC OS
market all devlopers and suppliers can best flourish through the success of
the others.

But that only works if everyone agrees and everyone follows those rules.

I'll risk two criticisms:

ONE: I offered to help sort out one of your problems (and that may have led to
the whole being sorted). I needed a copy of your bug report but apparently
that had been limited to telephone conversations. If anyone has a critical
problem then it really is essential that they are properly documented. 1.
There is a far better chance that your problem will be sorted out and your
expense *not* wasted, and 2. It would benefit the rest of us rather than
having to wait longer for someone else to encounter the problem, report it
properly, have it identified, and get the bug sorted.

TWO: You relied on Usenet rumour to inform you of development. This isn't your
fault, but the misinformation does mean that decisions are made on bad
premises.

--
        John