I agree with John Tuttle that people shouldn't be so quick to bother him
with questions about how to work his web site.  I also agree that people
should use the MMD archives more, before sending out new mail.
However, John's attitude towards free information and sharing trade
secrets deeply disturbed me.

John is a very nice guy.  I'm glad I know him over the 'net and he's
helped me many times, just as other MMDers have.  Through his web site
I've attained valuable information.  Through the MMD I've contacted
people who've sent me important diagrams and information that only a
few would know about special players.

To think that we've come to the point where we want to hide our
information from one another in the hobby (granted it is business for
some of us, but for most it's a fun hobby) is horrible.  What will this
do?  People like me will have to spend years messing with stuff on the
workbench, possibly destroying parts to players trying to figure out
how to rebuild them, make countless mistakes, and possibly, when we're
65, have attained as much info as the experts have already.  What would
that accomplish?

As to the business end, I really hope that the professionals out
there don't become a privileged enclave.  I can guarantee that I'm not
cutting into technicians' business out there.  Most of you live over
200 miles from me.  I have only done two minor player-related services
this year for pay.

If it wasn't for groups like the MMD and John Tuttle I'm sure we can
imagine how many more players would have been mutilated, scrapped, or
severely damaged by somebody without proper information to work with.

I encourage all of you out there who want to hide or charge for infor-
mation to reconsider.  You may be destroying something; an appreciation
for these machines and the survival of this hobby.  Generation X will
not know how to regulate and care for _your_ machine if you die with
your knowledge.

Damon Atchison
Damon66@juno.com