¢FUTURA EDITORIAL¢Jan/Feb 1994¢¢¢COMMUNITY SPIRIT v SUICIDAL WARFARE¢by S. J. Murray, NOSAUG.¢¢ As we move into 1994 it is becoming increasingly obvious to most of us that there is a desperate need for community spirit amongst Atari 8-bit suppliers in the UK. I wrote about the local and international Atari 8-bit Community in the last issue of Futura; where I outlined my thoughts on the survival of the Atari XL/XE market in 1994. Following on from this I must now add another essential component for survival - a community spirit amongst Atari 8-bit suppliers (especially those in the UK).¢¢ A few months back I spoke on the telephone with Les Ellingham, editor of Page 6, about the bitching and bully-boy tactics which are being conducted behind the scenes by certain British Atari 8-bitters. We agreed that such behaviour is absolutely pathetic and will rapidly become detrimental to the whole British XL/XE Community in the long run.¢¢ At the time we both agreed that it might be best to simply ignore these individuals and continue to move onwards in a positive manner, therfore not adding fuel to an already spreading fire. However, in the latest issue of Page 6, Les has decided to bring the whole matter out into the open. Whether or not this is the right decision in the longrun remains to be seen (the last thing our Community needs just now is warfare between suppliers - this would be commercial suicide and would probably spell the end to the Atari 8-bit in the UK!) Perhaps with open debate we can all solve the problem together (as both suppliers and users have the same goal - the continued success of the Atari 8-bit). I hope so!¢¢ To the behind-the-scenes snipers and pathetic petitioners I must say this:¢¢ Wake up to the 1990's before the user community become disenchanted with the Atari 8-bit and move onto a 16-bit!¢¢ I myself am an Atari 8-bit enthusiast. I love the system! I enjoy offering an 8-bit service to the many friendly, dedicated users thoughout the world - this is what makes all the time and effort worthwhile! I support as many suppliers as possible with my hard-earned cash! I also promote as many 8-bit suppliers as possible in Futura, often without similar support (or even thanks) in return. I do this because I see myself as part of an Atari 8-bit Community.¢¢ However, I am rapidly becoming fed-up with nasty behind-the-scenes comments and actions by certain individuals. I saw them in action at AMS7 last November. To these individuals I suggest the following:¢¢ The true Atari 8-bit enthusiast will see through you eventually! Why don't you stop and think about your actions and join together in our friendly Atari 8-bit Community? We should all wipe the slate clean and concentrate on being friendly to both customer and fellow-supplier. Think about it!¢¢ I will mention no names and no specific comments or actions. Please do not write to me requesting such information! With a bit of luck, everyone will soon be together in a friendly, coordinated market. There will then be no need to remember the deeds of the past. I've already written to one supplier offering to make peace, even though I feel it should definitely have been the supplier writing to me! Four weeks on and I've received no reply. I remain hopeful.¢¢¢Long live the Atari 8-bit Community!¢¢Stu.¢
