[HOE] Re: Long time lurker sharing position

["John Goff" <johngoff@cavtel.net>]

> It sucks when you have a company you respect for
> their wonderful products and kinship with their readers, totally piss it
> all away in something, which despite all circumstances is inherently
> crummy, as selling out.

Okay...

I had to slow down for a minute and take a deep breath before replying.

I think anyone that's ever seen me post to this list will agree that I
usually keep my responses as polite and respectful as possible. However,
this one _really_ rubbed me the wrong way. Guy, I realize you're not
personally angry with any of the folks at PEG, but your post expressed an
attitude that I'd like to address.

First of all, everybody at PEG is committed to making the best product with
what they have to work with that they can. However, this is a business--PEG
is a game _company_. The members make a product and sells it in order to pay
the bills, put food on the table, and support themselves and their loved
ones.

PEG staff has gone the extra step to forge a friendship with their
customers, but that doesn't make it a moral imperative for the company to go
under instead of "selling out." There are ethics and morals, and then
there's just foolish pride.

If it helps any, rest assured _none_ of us (Shane included) got rich as a
result of the sale. All we got was that we got to keep our jobs and try to
continue to keep the company rolling. Nobody walked away with a big check or
a red Ferrari. Nor did anyone walk away with any sort of ethical stain or in
any way worthy of being looked upon with "disgust.

If that was a little harsh, my apologies. It was not my intent to offend,
but I do take a bit of offense at seeing a group of folks I like and have as
great respect for as I do Shane, John, and the rest of the PEG folks painted
in such a light.

John Goff