The Mark Conrad FAQ, ver 2.0, 5 April 2004 
------======------ � � �Mark Conrad FAQ � � �------======------ 
1) �Why shouldn't I read or answer Mark Conrad's comp.sys.mac.* 
� � usenet posts? 
Mark has a history of posting incorrect and possibly dangerous 
misinformation in these newsgroups, ostensibly while trying to 
learn about Unix. �He repeatedly ignores correct answers from 
knowledgeable folks, but folks keep responding to him in the hopes 
that true novices won't be misled by him. �If you know that his 
post is incorrect, there's no reason not to correct him, if you've 
got the patience. �If you're a novice, though, _please_ seek more 
competent advice before paying attention to his posts. �The Mac 
you save may be your own. 
2) �Who is Mark Conrad? 
"Mark Conrad" is the name used by a frequent poster in the 
comp.sys.mac.* hierarchy. �Though the poster has admitted to 
using the name "Gerald Smith" years ago in CompuServe's 
online discussions, it is the name "Mark Conrad" which is 
used in the newsgroups and thus, it is the name "Mark Conrad" 
by which this FAQ will refer to the poster. �Since "Mark" is 
typically a man's name, this FAQ will use the masculine 
pronoun in reference to Mark. 
3) �What's the purpose of this FAQ? 
This FAQ is intended to explain to newsgroup newcomers 
precisely why Mark is the subject of his own FAQ. �It's a 
recursion thing. 
More importantly, this FAQ is intended to document exactly 
why it would be unwise or even dangerous for novices to take 
Mark's advice or indeed, to ascribe any credibility 
whatsoever to his statements. �The level of frustration 
associated with even reading his posts could well justify 
skipping over those posts entirely. �See question 1). �As 
poster Dave Hinz put it, "Mark is here to waste your time 
if you let him." 
4) �Is he a troll? 
Likely, but hard to say for sure. �Many of his posts exhibit 
signs that he is trolling. �His repeated claim that "Unix is 
hard" is not sufficient on its face to indicate trolling but 
his apparent inability to grasp even the simplest concepts is 
inconsistent with anyone's experience teaching Unix to new 
users. �He claims to have some sort of new business which, 
though yet not begun, will have many distributed computers 
that he plans to control remotely. �This business never seems 
to launch. �Statements about how precisely he will control 
the vast network of machines generally raise the ire of 
people who understand distributed computing. �More than 
anything, this author's belief that he is trolling stems from 
the fact that whatever the topic Mark brings up, persons 
knowledgeable in that field end up angered by his seeming 
ignorance and resistance to education. 
5) �Is he merely afflicted with a learning disability? 
Doubtful, but hard to say for sure. �The second 
explanation for his apparent inability to grasp even 
the simplest concepts is that he does indeed have some 
block that makes it hard for him to learn concepts that 
to most of us seem simple or at least easily taught. 
This explanation is less likely than the trolling explanation 
because of his online presence. �Operating a newsreader is 
more difficult than e.g., the Unix "grep" command, yet his 
continuing presence in the newsgroups indicates that he has 
regrettably mastered one. 
6) �Is he...you know...nuts? 
Possible, but hard to say for sure. �There certainly exist 
mental illnesses which lead to the sort of behavior that Mark 
demonstrates within the newsgroups and claims to engage in in 
his meatspace life. �Whether he is in fact suffering from one 
such illness is a diagnosis for a competent professional in 
the field of mental health to make. 
7) �What if I choose to read his posts despite this? 
Usenet's a global medium, so it's not like the old "Isn't 
this a free country?" argument holds water. �However, there's 
no authority which will drag you off to a gulag or even wag a 
finger sternly in your face if you read his posts. �The 
dangers are twofold: 
� � a) �Unix novices risk confusion by reading his explanations 
� � � � of how things work. �The explanations read plausibly, but 
� � � � are typically flat wrong. �Believing that one understands 
� � � � concepts when one does not can lead, in the worst case, to 
� � � � damaging one's system when acting on that misunderstanding.. 
� � b) �People competent in Unix risk high blood pressure by 
� � � � reading his explanations of how things work. �Among the 
� � � � risks associated with high blood pressure are stroke, heart 
� � � � attack, acid reflux disease, and shortened life span. 
8) �Who's responsible for this FAQ? 
Jim wrote most of it when the murmurings grew loud enough to warrant 
one and has edited the content. �BreadWithSpam has contributed question 
number 1) and pointed out that it, as the most important question, 
should be the first.

Dave Balderstone <dave@n_o_t_t_h_i_s.balderstone.ca> wrote:
>   The Mark Conrad FAQ, ver 2.0, 5 April 2004 
>   ------======------ � � �Mark Conrad FAQ � � �------======------ 
>   1) �Why shouldn't I read or answer Mark Conrad's comp.sys.mac.* 
>   � � usenet posts? 

Ha, the same boob who said you can't pull out Marshall McLuhan
because he's dead, is now posting an enemies list or something.

Pretty funny that he starts out saying don't read/answer posts
by "Mark Conrad", then says he morphs. Thanks for the warnings,
are we all supposed to run THOTH to get your filtering capabilities?
How come you still see the posts you dread?

Go pet yer rabbit and relax.

In article <230720052127493779%dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_S.balderstone.ca>,
 Dave Balderstone <dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_S.balderstone.ca> wrote:

> The Mark Conrad FAQ, ver 2.0, 5 April 2004 

Hmm, no updates in almost a year and a half?

-- 
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease:  Impeach the son of a Bush.

In article <michelle-E927D5.22473523072005@news.west.cox.net>, Michelle
Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> wrote:

> Hmm, no updates in almost a year and a half?

Mark/Gerald is remarkably consistent. I've dealt with her for a long,
long time.

The FAQ is collaborative. Do you have an addition? I'll be happy to
update it.

djb

-- 
~ Stay Calm... Be Brave... Wait for the Signs ~
------------------------------------------------------
One site: <http://www.balderstone.ca>
The other site, with ww links<http://www.woodenwabbits.com>

Michelle Steiner  wrote:
>In article <230720052127493779%dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_S.balderstone.ca>,
> Dave Balderstone <dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_S.balderstone.ca> wrote:
>
>> The Mark Conrad FAQ, ver 2.0, 5 April 2004 
>
>Hmm, no updates in almost a year and a half?

Well, the only reason to update it would be to put fresher "why he's a
troll and/or a nutball" dairy on the shelves.  The meat of the FAQ (run,
don't walk) is still good to eat.


Jim, and now I'm hungry
-- 
"I regard NASCAR the same way I regard gay porn: I know it exists and I
know some guys like it; I just don't want to see it."  --  Z. B. Goode