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The Ol’ College Try

Brent talks about something he calls "collegiality" and which I've long called "just being a good person." Collegiality is working together for a common good. It's equal parts "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" and other good bits of motherly wisdom and common sense. It's what one of my sig files implies when it says "My goal is to be the person my dog thinks I am."

In other words, "collegiality" is really nothing more than "the way it should be." It should go without saying. That Brent felt the need to "say" tells us simply that we're not quite there yet as a community, and that there are ways in which we can improve.

I held off on posting anything about this because I do feel it goes without saying. I try to avoid "me too" comments and simple "yeah, yep, I agree" posts. I do wish to expand a bit, however, as we do have room to grow.

First, let me be clear in stating my belief that saying bad things about another product is not the same thing as saying good things about yours. A few comments mention political ad campaigns, and I too am soured by the attack ads we see these days. If two candidates run positive campaigns promoting themselves, voters will be far more able to choose the candidate that suits them. Instead, voters are left to choose "the lesser of the two evils."

Choosing the lesser of two evils is not the way to share your software with the world. Apple does not make fun of other companies - it simply crafts its own software and promotes it. This is our goal at FSS as well. In fact, Apple's attitude and outlook is visible in nearly everything it does, and that attitude rubs off on its users and developers. I'd go so far as to say that it's part of the reason many of us continue to support Apple.

Touched by Apple, common sense, motherly advice, and regardless of what it's called, FSS is committed to being an upstanding member of the global Mac community.