Many thanks to Philip Greenspun for coming up with the software that drives this forum, and for hosting it (i.e. running the server, greenspun.com, on which the software runs).

Unfortunately, Phil tells me that greenspun.com is no longer being maintained, and will, at some time in the near future, go away.

Which means that this forum will die. I have written to the photo.net people asking if they would host it, but they haven't replied. Perhaps they are not interested.

Does anyone have any good ideas?

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), December 21, 2001

Answers

I would remind everyone that the entries in this forum are (c) copyright the original authors. Distribution of those entries as a book, CD or whatever probably violates such copyright. Distribution for profit would probably create proble, from me for a start. For your own personal use, I doubt that anyone would object. Just don't tell us, OK?

I hope I'll be able to copy the existing forum to a new location, somewhere, using a semi-automated copy-and paste. I'm even considering setting up my own server, the problem being that (a) the bandwidth would be lousy (but not really a problem with a text-based forum), and (b) it's not cheap.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), December 23, 2001.

Not sure why photo.net's management would cold shoulder PoP.The current gestalt there seems to be guided by diversification, as evidenced by the already-wide range of opinion on offer.The unmod Forum seems to carry a fair number of "speculative" questions that have nothing to do with brand wars or "too-lazy-to-look" issues--just the sort of thing we've chased around this forum.I see PoP as a worthy adjunct to the current photo.net list that includes "Nature" and "Medium Format." I've had fun here.

-- Gary Watson (cg.watson@sympatico.ca), December 21, 2001.

While I haven't been here in a while, I would like to have this forum linked to photo.net (rather than disappear), and will petition the lord with prayer. It's a sadly lacking component of that otherwise fairly comprehensive site. The B&W forums should make a fine addition to it as well. I hope this comes to pass, since the status quo is status not. All PoP contributors should be active in the request to photo.net. Like "Whos in Who-ville", ya know?... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), December 21, 2001.

Alan, is there any possibility this archive could be copied onto a CD, without me cutting and pasting each thread? (I'm a digital Kindergartner, is there an obvious answer?)

I have saved a few, and have printouts of others, but I'd actually like to have a copy of the whole damn thing... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), December 21, 2001.

Phil may have developed the software but Alan developed this site. I haven't been as active as in the beginning and middle but I want to take this opportunity to thank Alan for setting up PoP. It was and continues to be a great site for the discussion of non tech ideas. Here's to Alan. "Clink" And may this forum continue wherever it finds a home. James aka "Lumberjack to you pal"

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), December 22, 2001.

That's "Mister" Lumberjack. and thanks for reminding me of my manners (you always were such the diplomat) Thanks Alan for all your work, I've been copying and pasting some of my favorites for a "Greatest Hits of the PoP" CD ... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), December 23, 2001.

I know I'll hate myself in the morning for this, but I'll try to save all the threads to my harddisk tonight. If I'm successful, I be willing to make copies to mail or email to the cool folks who frequented this forum.

-- Chris Hawkins (peace@clover.net), December 23, 2001.

I'd definately want a CD of this, but please don't email me the whole website ( ! ). Let me know if you need a five spot for that Chris, I'd definately appreciate it... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), December 25, 2001.

I'm not sure how much good it will do, but it would be nice if everyone who's concerned about the future of this forum sent an email voicing your concerns to photo.net's feedback email address.

I just sent mine in a few minutes ago.

-- brian (bturner@visionadvertising.com), December 28, 2001.

Alan please check your email.

-- Al (al@usefilm.com), December 28, 2001.

Don't forget that all contributions to this forum are copyright the original authors. Distribution on a CD-ROM sounds like copyright violation to me.

Anyhow, there is no need. I am very happy to announce a new home for Philosophy of Photography: http://www.usefilm.com/forums .php. That page is a collection of forums, and P of P is one of them. Participants need to register (and login each time). You people have already been registered, under the e-mail addresses you have used here. Passwords have been arbirtrarily assigned. To find out your password, click on "Member utilities" screen top-left, then "Lost password?". Enter your e-mail, and the password will be e- mailed to you.

Very many thanks to Altaf Shaikh (al@usefilm.com) for setting this up.

Please make future postings to usefilm, not greenspun. Enjoy!

-- Alan Gibson (Alan@snibgo.com), December 29, 2001.

the body may die but the spirit lives on.

i have enjoyed and benefited from this site.

i wish Images of Photographyl had a longer life as well.

-- james warden (jimiwo@mac.com), January 03, 2002.