Subject: Re: PINE

From: Amy Lauderdale <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 1995 16:19:09 -0600

> and Elm meets my needs.  I think the problem with PINE is it is intended for
> use by naive users, but makes some assumptions that are contrary to the 
> nature of the audience (many naive users don't understand the difference
> between e-mail and news, for example; or understand the implications of 
> the word "post"). 
> 
> You can call naive users "stupid", but it won't save your product:  If you
> expect your users to be stupid, your product is a failure unless it 
> compensates for stupidity.

I just have to jump in on this discussion.  Pine is fantastic.  It has
been a lifesaver in teaching newcomers how to use email.  I started out
last year with unix mail and it was so hard for me, who had never used
computers at all.  Pine was so much simpler, and yes, it is for naive
newbies.  

This year I have helped many new teachers and students on internet
learn to use pine.  It is a wonderful program.

Specifically, as several others have pointed out, it asks you
if you want to post to the newsgroup.  That is pretty plain for
even the most naive.  But just in case it's not, pine also warns
you, "posted message may go to thousands of readers.  post it?"
Surely anyone, if not sure what that means, would say no, if not
intending to send it to thousands of folks....

It seems to me, that you have been embarrassed by someone's "accidental"
post to a newsgroup (maybe it was intentional?)....and are taking it
out on the makers of pine.  Something new users around here are
often warned about is that email is NOT totally private.  Once you
send something, it may end up anywhere, and you should consider
that when you send it.

I not only love pine, but I love this newsgroup, because up until
this thread, it has been one of the most pleasant flame-free
newsgroups I have had a chance to read.

---

From: [email-masked] (Glenn E. Lanier)
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 1995 17:55:47 GMT

On Mon, 6 Mar 1995 16:19:09 -0600, in comp.mail.pine, 
 [email-masked] (parading as Amy Lauderdale) managed to 
 electronically scribble:

% Specifically, as several others have pointed out, it asks you
% if you want to post to the newsgroup.  That is pretty plain for
% even the most naive.  But just in case it's not, pine also warns
% you, "posted message may go to thousands of readers.  post it?"
% Surely anyone, if not sure what that means, would say no, if not
% intending to send it to thousands of folks....

I am not contributing anything worthwhile to this thread but I am
reminded of someone's sig file I saw. Sorry, can't remember who
or where.

This program posts news to billions of machines throughout the galaxy.  Your 
message will cost the net enough to bankrupt your entire planet.  As a result 
your species will be sold into slavery.  Be sure you know what you are doing.
Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? [ny] y

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Glenn Lanier II                 Preferred:  [email-masked]   | 
| 04 CS                       Graduation in: 89 Days - 128227 Minutes  |
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| "640k is enough for anybody."   -- Bill Gates, 1981                  |
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