> Taking a look at the message-count on the mers-list,
> it seems, that a lot of users are perhaps ex-interbase
> users now, as the number of messages is sinking
> steadily.

The reason here is because "Darth Scheick" is now banning anyone who has a
viewpoint that he doesn't fully agree with. A large number of people have
been banned (myself included) and he is reading each post individually to
insure that only ideas and concepts approved of by him are given air space.
For all we know there are a lot of messages simply stuffed up in the queue
of messages to be screened. This utterly kills the effectiveness of a
support forum. When people are asking for help, they need it right then and
there, not when Rob gets around to herding through another batch of
messages.

I think such a practice is a grave offense when it is done to the
proportions that Rob is doing. Yes, there was some bickering going on but in
a large measure some good came of it. In fact, a lot of good came of it. His
policy of using force and imposing silence will only frustrate things worse.
There are valid concerns out there that need to be aired out and resolved.
Sweeping them under the rug and duct-taping people's mouths won't cure
anything.

I highly recommend that all who are interested in a support environment free
of these delays and screenings, join the IB-Support list at eGroups.com.

FWIW,
Jason Wharton
InterBase Developer Initiative
http://www.interbase2000.org