Jon Isaacs wrote:
Here's a clue. Herb is of the opinion that those who are in the business of
amateur astromony ought to be helping him with some of the expenses of
operating Astromart.

You hit the nail on the head there. But it's hard to explain why
Michael fits that profile... One could argue that Michael is giving
back to the hobby by writing such great books for so little
compensation. I say we all support Michael. Herb could let him use
Astromart for free, for instance...

It is not about getting punished, it is simply about growing up and carrying a
bit of the load.

Grow up eh? Always an ironic response in a personal attack...

Either Astromart is a business or it is a charity. It can't be both.
If it is a business then it's being run poorly. As a business the
advertisers (Herb calls them "supporters") should be treated as business
partners rather than potential criminals. His competition has stolen
advertisers away from him by simply allowing them to try their service
out for free. They assume that once the advertiser sees the results
they will gladly pay in the future. What do they have to lose? I once
received an email solicitation to advertise on Astromart from Herb. Get
this: it sent me to a web page that complained that he had just raised
his rates because he wasn't getting enough support! Gee Herb, thanks
for nothing! And when he found out that I had taken his competitors up
on their free trial Herb closed my personal account. Thanks again,
Herb. A good businessman would have matched the offer of the competitor
rather and would have welcomed my use of Astromart in the hope I would
one day consider advertising.

If Astromart is a charity then Herb's approach is even more misguided.
You don't run a charity by banning everyone from fair use simply because
you decide they might be a potential donor! Catching flies with honey
and all that... Imagine for a moment that Herb was running a Hospital
with a free clinic. The Hospital accepts donations for a big research
project to cure some terrible disease. Following the Astromart approach
Herb would ban all potential donors and their relatives from being
treated unless they support his project! He'd bar them from visiting
friends and relatives! And he'd ban anyone from the hospital who dared
give to another charity.

Frankly I think Astromart is a business. The problem is that Herb just
doesn't realize it. The day he treats me as a business partner rather
than an outcast not doing my share to support *his* charity--then we'll
talk.

Clear skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

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