Re: XML and OO COBOL

From: Peter E. C. Dashwood (dashwood_at_enternet.co.nz)
Date: 05/30/04 

Date: 30 May 2004 06:51:22 -0700

Thanks for posting that, Richard.

I appreciate that you are merely posting your own observation without
taking sides in an argument.

Anyway, I'll take this opportunity to set the record straight.

1. I was a founder member of the New Zealand Computer Society when a
group of "computer people" got together in Auckland around 1966 (I
think it was).

2. I attended meetings and remained a member until it got too silly
for words. There was a proposal to have "registered practitioners" and
no company would be able to run an in-house computer system unless
there was at least one NZCS registered practitioner on board!

3. I decided it was just getting silly. There were obviously people
there who took themselves far too seriously for anyone's good. I
resigned, and I suspect they were glad to see me go, because I had
fiercely resisted and debated some of these proposals that were so
dear to them.

The actual quote I used in mail (years ago...wonder why he kept it?)
to Gavan was: "They were a bunch of wankers." I stand by it. (I also
try to make it a policy not to say anything about anyone behind their
back, that I wouldn't say to their face...

DISCLAIMER:

This comment was made years ago, and was describing a time even more
years ago. I have no opinion about the NZCS today, as I have had no
dealings with it. Hopefully some younger, brighter, minds have joined,
and the "Boring old Farts" have either retired or moved on to the big
computer room in the sky. I wish the current society well.

Pete.

riplin@Azonic.co.nz (Richard) wrote in message news:<217e491a.0405271356.163b58b7@posting.google.com>...
> "James J. Gavan" <jjgavan@shaw.ca> wrote
>
> > I sometimes think you have a problem being rational about a number of
> > topics. I recall you saying years ago, "I did belong to the NZ Computer
> > Society. But I left - they were a bunch of ......!" , (the word didn't
> > begin with an "a"). How many other "bunch of ......", have you come
> > across in your career. You remind me of the seaside postcard of a
> > platoon with one guy grinning, "Hello Mum. They are all out of step
> > except me".
>
> Actually, I also was a member of NZCS and left when the leadership was
> taken over by a bunch of self-serving arseholes. This was a
> completely indepenent view as I had no contact with PECD at the time.

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