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The practice of evangelism is to promote something. To stick up for it. To proclaim it to the world at the top of your lungs. In the world of Macintosh, our most popular EvangeList is Guy Kawasaki. His EvangeList newsletter is so popular in the Mac community that it boggles the mind. And Guy is the perfect choice for the job, which is why Apple hired him away from Macworld. While Guy was at Macworld magazine, he owned the back page. He was at the top of almost everyone's "must read" list, month after month. When Guy saw something he did not like, he wasn't afraid to let the masses know of it. Even if what he saw wrong was at Apple.

You've got to have respect for a guy like that. (No pun intended) Macworld is a much sorrier read for losing Guy Kawasaki. (Though David Pogue has saved it, in my humble opinion)

Guy started the EvangeList newsletter with the intention of promoting the Macintosh Way. And he has done a great job of it; providing everything from news, job offers, pointing to companies who create Mac programs, and even giving this very magazine a listing so that more people could find us. He's a great guy (yes, I intended that one!) However, there is one problem I see originating from the EvangeList newsletter. And that is the practice of some of its readers to send hate mail to those who write something bad about the Macintosh platform.

Here's a scenario: Writer "X" from "Magazine $" writes an article about Apple, in which he states Apple is going down the tubes. He even lists his reasons for thinking so. Now, "X" knows that there are many faithful Apple Macintosh users out there who will disagree with him. He is prepared for some of the letters he is bound to receive in response to his article. Hey, he even likes it somewhat, as it proves his work is being read.

His article for "Magazine $" is also published on their Web site. Next, a Web browsing fellow using his Mac reads it. He copies the article, and send it along to the EvangeList, care of Guy Kawasaki. Guy, who reads the article, makes mention of it in the EvangeList newsletter, and gives a URL for all to read.

So far, so good. Guy is providing information. Writer "X" is getting more people reading his work. "Magazine $" is getting more hits on their Web page, meaning a potential for new subscribers. All fine and dandy, even though the article in question is an ill-informed mess, bordering on ignorance.

The problem comes along after this stage. Some writers have coined the phrase "Mac Zealots" and it is an apt name. Some users take it upon themselves to then send hate mail to the writer in question. This, my fellow Mac users, is the problem.

No, I do not think it is wrong to send e-mail to a writer whom you disagree with. In fact, as a writer myself, I get just such mail every now and then. (In fact, I expect some after this article is printed!) But there is a fine line some letter writers are crossing that should be addressed. It is simply not right for these "Mac Zealots" to write e-mail stating that "I'll dance on your grave" I'm sorry, but it is just wrong.

First of all, some of the people writing these letters have not bothered to take the time to even read writer "X's" column. They simply see a posting in EvangeList that points out a negative Apple article. And with the coaching of Guy to "set right" uninformed journalists, these hate-mail mongers take it upon themselves to try and do just that. Unfortunately, the end result is not what I imagine Guy Kawasaki had in mind.

Now, if I were writer "X", I would do one of two things. My first instinct would be to get a little frightened. Who in their right mind wouldn't be, if you got ten or so letters saying they would dance on your grave? Face it, folks, there are some crazy people out there, and you never know. As a writer, I am sure Guy would appreciate how these people feel. I know I do.

My next instinct would be either anger or irritation. Both, I'm sorry to say, are not going to help to enlighten writer "X" to change his/her view or opinion on the anti-Apple stance. In fact, if anything, it may do just the opposite and reinforce their belief. People on the defensive will hold their ground much more fiercely than the norm, believe me.

So now writer "X" has received 150 e-mails. Let's say 125 of them fall into the hate-mail category. Out of that 125, most of which simply says, "You ######!", or the like. Perhaps 10 or less go to the extreme of actually being construed as threatening. The remaining letters are from those who actually read the article, and offer an opposing view written in an intelligent, concise, and thought provoking way.

Now, which of these letters would you rather receive? And which of these letters would have a better chance of making you change your mind? As a Mac user, who would you want representing you to the world? I'm here to tell you, folks, that it is the Mac-Zealots who are getting too much of the attention of the press. Not the intelligent, thought provoking letter writers we would like to champion our cause.

Now, is Guy Kawasaki to blame for this? I would like to say no, but I would be lying. Guy must share in some of the blame for this recent development. Not because he publishes the EvangeList. But because he promotes readers to "Set the anti-Apple press straight." No, Guy does not come out and say "Spam these suckers!" but he knows that this's what's happening.

I would ask you, if you are participating in this hate-mail campaign, to stop. Stop now before you give all Mac users a bad name. If you hear about an anti-Apple article, please take the time to read it before writing the author. And when you do write, use a little common sense and intelligence. Try to prove the author wrong if you can. If he/she is an idiot, and it is evident from their writings, why even bother to write the author? Instead, drop a letter to the editor, and tell them you plan to boycott their publication. That will get much better results.

I would also ask Guy Kawasaki to try and curtail some of the more vocal (read: Fanatical hate mongers) letter writers. I'm quite sure there are much more productive ways they can focus their devotion to the Macintosh than to send hate-mail. These letter writers are indeed starting to give Mac users a bad name, and that's counter productive to our goals. I don't know about you, but I would rather be known for my creativity and intelligence than my ability to write hate-mail.

The Macintosh is the best computer platform out there, bar none. It is about to get even better with System 8.0, and later with the next generation Mac OS. However, it will not be the great benefits of the computers we use that will be noticed, but the minority of fanatics who are so vocal. You can't shout the Mac's virtues over the din of screaming hate mongers. The loudest voice is usually that which is the most noticed, and that does not bode well for either the Mac, Mac users, or Apple.

Tim Robertson (publisher@mymac.com)

My Turn - Previous Columns

1997: | #25/May '97 | #24/April '97 | #23/March '97 | #22/Feb. '97 |

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