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After that last page, I decided to forward a copy of it on to Guy Kawasaki. Why? First, I thought it only fair, as I knew from reading it myself that some may take it as an attack on Guy, which it is not. But to stave off the hate-mail (!) I decided to let Guy have a few words here.

Guy's Response:

I agree that some of the e-mail is counterproductive, but how would you have me stop it? I'm open to suggestion. Do you think I want these death threats to go to the press? Do you think I condone violence?

- As far as the computer press getting hate-mail, I say tough. Do you think that the columnists who write pro or anti gun control, abortion, etc. don't get hate-mail? It's just that the computer press is spoiled and have traditionally written about things that don't raise passion: "Andy Grove said that Intel introduced multimedia to computing today with the introduction of MMX." Yeah, let's all bow to Andy.

The opposite effect is more dangerous: Freedom of speech only if you're a) polite or b) you agree with the journalist.

- Also, consider that perhaps Wintel people are writing to these columnists as Macintosh owners. Or 12 year old kids who are scaring the crap out of poor Stewart. (One must wonder why he took a picture in Fortune holding pistols. Who's the nut here?)

- Journalists like Stewart are taking what they want and flushing the rest. They are focusing on the menacing death threats instead of addressing the real issue: Why are thousands of people willing to write to them?

If this were the Civil Rights issue, it would be like saying, "My God, dozens of black people are rioting, killing white people, and protesting. We must stop this uncivilized behavior. They certainly aren't doing equality any favors."

Instead, they should be asking, "Why don't black people have the same rights? Why are there laws that don't make sense? Why do they have separate bathrooms? Why are thousands of black people so angry about the loss of their rights?"

No, they avoid the issue and claim that ALL blacks (EvangeLista are bad because some riot (send hate-mail). Gee, it's not that there isn't equal rights. It isn't that my editorial is brain-dead. These people are evil.

FWIW,

Guy

Tim Robertson (publisher@mymac.com)

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