Does anybody want to talk about Sinclair computers at CSS or not?

>From time to time, I'm surprised for the lot of posts that doesn't
have any word about Sinclair computers, hardware and software and more
of it. Not being so serious, but there should be here the figure of
one moderator or more who decide to show what everybody send to CSS
for public debate, under some determined rules.

I insist... this is a newsgroup about Sinclair computers everybody
should talk and discuss about. I don't bother any jokes between posts.
However, ultimately I'm beginning to be disenchanted with the way some
of the posts are going on.

If somebody have other interests to say whatever they want that don't
have any relationship with it, they are completely wrong coming here
and there is no reason to watch them in this group. Sure most of us
have one Sinclair computer and may be right with me or not, however we
would like to answer and reply for any doubt somebody has about
Sinclair machines and rest of things. Therefore, I wouldn't reply any
post that doesn't accomplish with the pretended requirements of this
group.

By last, does anybody really want to talk about the ZX-80, ZX-81, ZX
Spectrum or something else related with them and never resort to
subterfuges (like non-intelligent quotes and other nonsenses)?

If everything continues this way, I wouldn't mind to exclude this
group of my favourites sites and move to WoS forums. Who wants to
follow me?

(sure all has been understood. My English is not very perfect)

RDisky

........................................................................

The watcher and the tower, waiting hour by hour

On 2007-05-19, RDisky <rdisky@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> If everything continues this way, I wouldn't mind to exclude this
> group of my favourites sites and move to WoS forums. Who wants to
> follow me?[/color]

Byeeee!!

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

You will enjoy the WOS Forums more - lots more activity for one thing,
both by fans of the Sinclair machines and also those people actually doing
something in the scene. And if you want off-topic stuff then the Chit Chat
forum on WOS is there for you.

Things you'll be leaving behind:

- crossposted repetitive flamewars

- crossposted repetitive "my computer is better than yours" flamewars

- periods of inactivty (well, no valuable activity) lasting several days

CSS is dead - although the corpse twitches in interesting ways sometimes.

--
Nick Humphries, [email]nick@egyptus.co.uk[/email] [url]http://www.egyptus.co.uk/[/url]
Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/[/url]
YSRnRY documentary (1988 OUT NOW!) [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/tvprog/[/url]
The Tipshop [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/[/url]
ZX Video and WWW Alerts [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/cgi-bin/rsscheck.pl[/url]

RDisky <rdisky@hotmail.com> did eloquently scribble:[color=blue][color=green]
>>From time to time, I'm surprised for the lot of posts that doesn't[/color]
> have any word about Sinclair computers, hardware and software and more
> of it. Not being so serious, but there should be here the figure of
> one moderator or more who decide to show what everybody send to CSS
> for public debate, under some determined rules.[/color]

Rubbish.
[color=blue]
> I insist...[/color]

Insist all you like, you have no say. Who made you usenet moderator?
[color=blue]
> this is a newsgroup about Sinclair computers everybody
> should talk and discuss about. I don't bother any jokes between posts.
> However, ultimately I'm beginning to be disenchanted with the way some
> of the posts are going on.[/color]

No, this is NOT *JUST* a newsgroup for discussion of sinclair computers.
That is and has never been its purpose. If you know so much, perhaps you can
explain what would've happened if it HAD been moderated and all off topic
posts rejected?

Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
front apart from the odd new game or competition. This is a COMMUNITY who
share a common interest.

The person who wrote charter that resulted in the creation of the newsgroup,
even back then, had the wisdom to do it properly.

[color=blue]
> If somebody have other interests to say whatever they want that don't
> have any relationship with it, they are completely wrong coming here
> and there is no reason to watch them in this group.[/color]

How do you know?
Some of us have been here for 12 *YEARS*. Some longer. (I've been just a
leeeetle bit shorter than that).

So what makes you think you know how this newsgroup should work?

Sure most of us[color=blue]
> have one Sinclair computer and may be right with me or not, however we
> would like to answer and reply for any doubt somebody has about
> Sinclair machines and rest of things. Therefore, I wouldn't reply any
> post that doesn't accomplish with the pretended requirements of this
> group.[/color]

YOUR requirements are irrelevant.
Here is the charter for the group you know nowt about.
=================================
Charter: To provide a forum for the discussion of the various
brainchildren of Sir Clive (born Clive Sinclair) and related
computers such as the Jupiter Ace, TK95, SAM Coupe and never-to-be
Thor, software, peripherals, emulators for them, programming them;
playing those wonderful games (6031769, anyone?); and anything else
which interests the Sinclair community. The group will not be
moderated. If, at some future date, someone should want to make it
moderated, the same procedure should be followed as for the creation
of a new USENET group at that time.
------------------------------

Note that clause there? Very important clause that is. "And anything else
that interests the sinclair community".
[color=blue]
> By last, does anybody really want to talk about the ZX-80, ZX-81, ZX
> Spectrum or something else related with them and never resort to
> subterfuges (like non-intelligent quotes and other nonsenses)?[/color]
[color=blue]
> If everything continues this way, I wouldn't mind to exclude this
> group of my favourites sites and move to WoS forums. Who wants to
> follow me?[/color]

Sod off to WOS fora then, if that's your attitude.
You've never contributed anything to this newsgroup anyway, so what gives
you any authority NOW to decide what is and is not permissable?
--
______________________________________________________________________________
| [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] | |
|Andrew Halliwell BSc(hons)| "The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't |
| in | suck is probably the day they start making |
| Computer science | vacuum cleaners" - Ernst Jan Plugge |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nick Humphries <nickjunk@egyptus.co.uk> did eloquently scribble:[color=blue]
> You will enjoy the WOS Forums more - lots more activity for one thing,
> both by fans of the Sinclair machines and also those people actually doing
> something in the scene. And if you want off-topic stuff then the Chit Chat
> forum on WOS is there for you.[/color]
[color=blue]
> Things you'll be leaving behind:[/color]
[color=blue]
> - crossposted repetitive flamewars[/color]
[color=blue]
> - crossposted repetitive "my computer is better than yours" flamewars[/color]
[color=blue]
> - periods of inactivty (well, no valuable activity) lasting several days[/color]
[color=blue]
> CSS is dead - although the corpse twitches in interesting ways sometimes.[/color]

Pessimist.
It's not dead, it's just restin.
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] | Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
|Andrew Halliwell BSc(hons)| operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
| in |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
| Computer Science | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
> front apart from the odd new game or competition.[/color]

Wrong.

You should read the WOS Forums more often.

--
Nick Humphries, [email]nick@egyptus.co.uk[/email] [url]http://www.egyptus.co.uk/[/url]
Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/[/url]
YSRnRY documentary (1988 OUT NOW!) [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/tvprog/[/url]
The Tipshop [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/[/url]
ZX Video and WWW Alerts [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/cgi-bin/rsscheck.pl[/url]

Nick Humphries <nickjunk@egyptus.co.uk> did eloquently scribble:[color=blue]
> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:[/color]
[color=blue][color=green]
>> Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
>> front apart from the odd new game or competition.[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
> Wrong.[/color]
[color=blue]
> You should read the WOS Forums more often.[/color]

I hate web forums, I'll stick with usenet if it's all the same to you.
Usenet is a better medium for discussions, with proper threading etc etc.
--
| |What to do if you find yourself stuck in a crack|
| [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] |in the ground beneath a giant boulder, which you|
| |can't move, with no hope of rescue. |
|Andrew Halliwell BSc(hons)|Consider how lucky you are that life has been |
| in |good to you so far... |
| Computer Science | -The BOOK, Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy.|

On May 19, 12:36 pm, spi...@freenet.co.uk wrote:
[color=blue][color=green]
> > You should read the WOS Forums more often.[/color]
>
> I hate web forums, I'll stick with usenet if it's all the same to you.
> Usenet is a better medium for discussions, with proper threading etc etc.[/color]

Perhaps but you miss out on the best stuff. css is just not the
place to discuss relevant stuff anymore -- to answer the OP,
most people have already moved to wos. I only come here
for auld tymes sake and for a moment of amusement. There's
never anything sinclair-related announced here that hasn't already
been aired at wos but there's plenty in the other direction,
unfortunately.

Yeah, I think it's sad but css is only a pale shadow of what it
once was. I hope it's only restin' but since most new people
to the internet (ie last 5 years) don't even know what usenet is,
I doubt it.

[email]A936@hotmail.com[/email] did eloquently scribble:[color=blue]
> Yeah, I think it's sad but css is only a pale shadow of what it
> once was. I hope it's only restin' but since most new people
> to the internet (ie last 5 years) don't even know what usenet is,
> I doubt it.[/color]

Well, I'll be including usenet when I teach IT.

Might've had a badly educated generation but at least one school will learn
what the internet REALLY is, if I have my way.
(Start my PGCE in september)
:)
--
| |What to do if you find yourself stuck in a crack|
| [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] |in the ground beneath a giant boulder, which you|
| |can't move, with no hope of rescue. |
|Andrew Halliwell BSc(hons)|Consider how lucky you are that life has been |
| in |good to you so far... |
| Computer Science | -The BOOK, Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy.|

On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> Nick Humphries <nickjunk@egyptus.co.uk> did eloquently scribble:[color=green]
>> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:[/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
>>> front apart from the odd new game or competition.[/color][/color]
>[color=green]
>> Wrong.[/color]
>[color=green]
>> You should read the WOS Forums more often.[/color]
>
> I hate web forums, I'll stick with usenet if it's all the same to you.
> Usenet is a better medium for discussions, with proper threading etc etc.[/color]

Then please don't pretend you know what's happening in the
Sinclair-related scene when you ignore one of the central information
resources about it.

--
Nick Humphries, [email]nick@egyptus.co.uk[/email] [url]http://www.egyptus.co.uk/[/url]
Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/[/url]
YSRnRY documentary (1988 OUT NOW!) [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/tvprog/[/url]
The Tipshop [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/[/url]
ZX Video and WWW Alerts [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/cgi-bin/rsscheck.pl[/url]

Nick Humphries <nickjunk@egyptus.co.uk> did eloquently scribble:[color=blue]
> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:[/color]
[color=blue][color=green]
>> Nick Humphries <nickjunk@egyptus.co.uk> did eloquently scribble:[color=darkred]
>>> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>>>> Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
>>>> front apart from the odd new game or competition.[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Wrong.[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>>> You should read the WOS Forums more often.[/color]
>>
>> I hate web forums, I'll stick with usenet if it's all the same to you.
>> Usenet is a better medium for discussions, with proper threading etc etc.[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
> Then please don't pretend you know what's happening in the
> Sinclair-related scene when you ignore one of the central information
> resources about it.[/color]

OK then...
What IS happening in the sinclair scene then?
Post things here, let those of us who loath webfora know.
Put some life back into comp.sys.sinclair rather than just sit back and say
it's dead when you're one of the major contributing factors TO its death.
By abandoning it for an inferior medium!

--
______________________________________________________________________________
| [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] | |
|Andrew Halliwell BSc(hons)| "The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't |
| in | suck is probably the day they start making |
| Computer science | vacuum cleaners" - Ernst Jan Plugge |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]A936@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> css is just not the
> place to discuss relevant stuff anymore[/color]

Agreed. It's all very well saying that a Usenet newgroup is technically
better than a rival web forum, but unless there's something substantial to
actually read on it, people are better off going elsewhere.

Let's face it, you can't be informed about what's happening in the
Sinclair scene unless you go to the place where all the action is reported
and discussed.
[color=blue]
> Yeah, I think it's sad but css is only a pale shadow of what it
> once was. I hope it's only restin' but since most new people
> to the internet (ie last 5 years) don't even know what usenet is,
> I doubt it.[/color]

It is sad - I was one of the people who voted this newgroup into existence
- but things change, and they're out of your control unless you try and
improve your particular venue for the better.

--
Nick Humphries, [email]nick@egyptus.co.uk[/email] [url]http://www.egyptus.co.uk/[/url]
Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/[/url]
YSRnRY documentary (1988 OUT NOW!) [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/tvprog/[/url]
The Tipshop [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/[/url]
ZX Video and WWW Alerts [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/cgi-bin/rsscheck.pl[/url]

On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> Nick Humphries <nickjunk@egyptus.co.uk> did eloquently scribble:[color=green]
>> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:[/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> Nick Humphries <nickjunk@egyptus.co.uk> did eloquently scribble:
>>>> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
>>>>> front apart from the odd new game or competition.
>>>
>>>> Wrong.
>>>
>>>> You should read the WOS Forums more often.
>>>
>>> I hate web forums, I'll stick with usenet if it's all the same to you.
>>> Usenet is a better medium for discussions, with proper threading etc etc.[/color][/color]
>[color=green]
>> Then please don't pretend you know what's happening in the
>> Sinclair-related scene when you ignore one of the central information
>> resources about it.[/color]
>
> OK then...
> What IS happening in the sinclair scene then?
> Post things here, let those of us who loath webfora know.[/color]

Sorry, don't work for free, especially when response here to my projects
is minimal compared to the WOS Forums. It's your problem you're out of the
loop, not mine.
[color=blue]
> Put some life back into comp.sys.sinclair rather than just sit back and say
> it's dead when you're one of the major contributing factors TO its death.[/color]

Ah yes, it's my fault the WOS Forums are more popular.

Actually, that makes me feel quite proud if true.

--
Nick Humphries, [email]nick@egyptus.co.uk[/email] [url]http://www.egyptus.co.uk/[/url]
Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/[/url]
YSRnRY documentary (1988 OUT NOW!) [url]http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/tvprog/[/url]
The Tipshop [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/[/url]
ZX Video and WWW Alerts [url]http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/cgi-bin/rsscheck.pl[/url]

Nick Humphries wrote:[color=blue]
> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
>> front apart from the odd new game or competition.[/color]
>
> Wrong.
>
> You should read the WOS Forums more often.[/color]

Hmm. I'm rarely online when I read CSS... and sadly, AFAIK, nobody has
yet invented an offline web forum reader.

Calum <com.gmail@scottishwildcat.nospam> did eloquently scribble:[color=blue]
> Nick Humphries wrote:[color=green]
>> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
>>> front apart from the odd new game or competition.[/color]
>>
>> Wrong.
>>
>> You should read the WOS Forums more often.[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
> Hmm. I'm rarely online when I read CSS... and sadly, AFAIK, nobody has
> yet invented an offline web forum reader.[/color]

See? See?! Usenet better. Web forums crap.
SEE!?

easy to use texttospeech, so the blind can use it.
Easy on the phone bill cos you can post and download all the articles
independent of any website and read them offline...
Text only so you get quick download times
threaded, properly


Call me a luddite, I don't care.
--
______________________________________________________________________________
| [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] | |
|Andrew Halliwell BSc(hons)| "The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't |
| in | suck is probably the day they start making |
| Computer science | vacuum cleaners" - Ernst Jan Plugge |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> Calum <com.gmail@scottishwildcat.nospam> did eloquently scribble:[color=green]
>> Nick Humphries wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hint: Everything has been said. There's very little news on the sinclair
>>>> front apart from the odd new game or competition.
>>> Wrong.
>>>
>>> You should read the WOS Forums more often.[/color][/color]
>[color=green]
>> Hmm. I'm rarely online when I read CSS... and sadly, AFAIK, nobody has
>> yet invented an offline web forum reader.[/color]
>
> See? See?! Usenet better. Web forums crap.
> SEE!?
>
> easy to use texttospeech, so the blind can use it.[/color]

There are screen-readers for the web.
[color=blue]
> Easy on the phone bill cos you can post and download all the articles
> independent of any website and read them offline...
> Text only so you get quick download times
> threaded, properly[/color]

Yep, I would have agreed with you up to a point a few years ago. But,
come one, that's a bit of a feeble excuse to use now, with the majority
of people on unmetered internet connections (yourself included), be it
broadband or dialup.

Web forum software, including WoS forums has the option to display
threads in a variety of ways, including "proper" threading, as you put it.

These excuses for usenet being better belong in the 20th century.
Things have moved on since then.

Daren

[email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> easy to use texttospeech, so the blind can use it.
> Easy on the phone bill cos you can post and download all the articles
> independent of any website and read them offline...
> Text only so you get quick download times
> threaded, properly
>
>
> Call me a luddite, I don't care.[/color]

Hi [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email]!


My std. dl everyday, Usenet, E-Mail etc., is compressed by over 50%.
I am actually thinking to a faster serial device with 460800 baud, but
I am not sure about the machine where I should put in. AMIGA or PC....

E.g. 400MB per Month is easy achievable by my ISDN and its sturdy
real-time archiving. (I think it's STAC compression)
DSL do not give me compression, not to mention the standby-leakage dl,
which is also calculated into the 400MB/month capacity, and the bigger
amount of data due to non-compression of text and other compressible
Internet files (e.g. Usenet).
With cable-modem there is even more stdby-leakage...

All at all, a 400MB DSL costs me more than the same amount with my ISDN
:-). (This month I am at ~6 Pounds Sterling, 250MB :))
A 400MB would cost ~15UKP and would have been already exceeded due to
non-compression etc.


An ISDN flatrate would be my dream ;)




Best regards,

Daniel Mandic

Sorry Spike, but it just seems to be the way of things. "Fora" (what a
terrible plural) for Oric, Sinclair, Commodore etc. have all taken
over the heaving lifting from Usenet. Will you be teaching history or
IT? ;-)
Sad but true, as Metallica would say.

Nick Humphries wrote:[color=blue]
> On Sat, 19 May 2007 [email]spike1@freenet.co.uk[/email] wrote:[color=green]
>> What IS happening in the sinclair scene then? Post things here, let
>> those of us who loath webfora know.[/color]
>
> Sorry, don't work for free[/color]

Oh, you get paid to post on WOS? Awesome.

Nick Humphries wrote:[color=blue]
> Then please don't pretend you know what's happening in the
> Sinclair-related scene when you ignore one of the central information
> resources about it.[/color]

The format of this ultimate repository for Sinclair-related news isn't
exactly the most readable. How many users properly quote in replies? How
easy is it to read in a text console? What if animated smileys make your
tract itch?

I also have issues with posting on a moderated forum. Those familiar
with my work know I'm liable to go off on a mad one if the mood takes
me. I don't feel like contributing where I might be banned or warned
about my behaviour. Also don't like the idea of thread locking. It's not
that I don't trust Martijn's judgment, it's just that I ****ing despise
censorship no matter how honourable the intention behind it.

I agree with the original poster and also with Nick H. There are some
good specchums in here, but unfortunately there's lots of unfriendly
people who scare others away, and the fact that there's more off-topic
posts than Sinclair content doesn't help at all. Specchums who think
there's not much stuff happening in the scene have been missing a lot.
If people don't like forums or dislike W.O.S., that's too bad.

There is one excellent Sinclair Usenet group, but that's the Spanish
one. They're friendly, active in the scene, helpful, knowledgeable but
not full of themselves, and they don't let rude people take over.

I will keep coming here, in the hope that things will change for the
better.