Wiardgroup

--- In wiardgroup@yahoogroups.com, "drmabuce" <drmabuce@y...> wrote:
> I disagreed with almost every single one of John's opinions but 
> I've still got a lump in my throat. 
> I loved his sharp wit, his uncompromising, NON-waffling integrity 
> and most of all, his literate and articulate style. 

I, too, am very saddened to hear this.  I think it's important to 
occasionally have one's opinions confronted as a way to help 
understand and articulate them better, or perhaps to even change 
them.  I don't think that John's visit here changed anyone's 
opinion, but I do know that it inspired some great conversation, and 
some excellent writing by several listmembers here.

And yep, even his cheap shots were usually pretty damn amusing!

>I really can't think of a clash that I will miss more. The whole 
>synth community is poorer now that his chair is empty.

I'm grateful that I had a chance to meet him in person (albeit 
briefly, at the Hayward synth meet last year), and was able to see 
firsthand that his "real world" personality was not nearly as 
abrasive as his "internet" one.  And I'm very sad that now he'll 
never be able to take me up on my offer to let him experiment with 
imitative synthesis to his heart's content on my Wiard system - it's 
always great to see synthesists better than me at work.

I may be an atheist, but I still have to believe that someone with 
his ideas & opinions about art, music, and beauty, would make a 
great addition to the celestial orchestra.

Play on, John,

    -Doug
     jasret@mindspring.com