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highplainsdem

(59,477 posts)

22. It's usually a very bad idea to be drunk online (or offline, for that matter). Jerry was very bright and

Reply to hunter (Reply #14)

Tue Dec 9, 2025, 03:11 PM

Dec 9

very well-educated. Bonkers politically, of course, and not as good a debater as he thought he was - plus online he didn't have the advantage of being physically imposing, which probably helped him win some arguments offline. He could also be extremely nice, even charming. People dealing with him when he was online and drinking probably saw him at his worst.

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A reviewer at The Verge says a two-device distraction-free substitute for old word processors is worth nearly $900 [View all] highplainsdem Dec 9 OP

WordStar had some very useful features. yardwork Dec 9 #1

These days I write in Goggle docs Johonny Dec 9 #2

Since we've retired... MiHale Dec 9 #3

Dear Benjamin ... usonian Dec 9 #4

I have multiple computers I use for different purposes... hunter Dec 9 #5

As someone who made my living as a writer, I can't agree. MineralMan Dec 9 #6

My first word processor was vi on a BSD terminal. hunter Dec 9 #14

I was the word processing reviewer and columnist for PC World for 12 years. MineralMan Dec 9 #17

Before you tipped me off, I was going to ask if you are Jerry Pournelle. usonian Dec 9 #19

Jerry passed away 8 years ago. highplainsdem Dec 9 #21

Yup. I'm still here, though... MineralMan Dec 9 #26

Pournelle started writing on a personal computer using a program called Electric Pencil... hunter Dec 9 #30

It's usually a very bad idea to be drunk online (or offline, for that matter). Jerry was very bright and highplainsdem Dec 9 #22

Jerry had a genius IQ. MineralMan Dec 9 #28

Never had a dot-matrix or daisy-wheel printer. (Really hated dot-matrix.) The first printer I bought was highplainsdem Dec 9 #20

I have a device that's a competitor to the Remarkable Paper Pro... Hugin Dec 9 #7

Cult Sci-Fi author repackages WordStar 7 DOS -- 680MB zip has software, emulators, manuals, and tips squished in Celerity Dec 9 #8

The real scary nerds used... Hugin Dec 9 #10

Thanks, Celerity! highplainsdem Dec 9 #23

WPS Office is free and works great. Fichefinder Dec 9 #9

Hmmm, less is more. Prairie_Seagull Dec 9 #11

Yes, indeed 'they' do! Hugin Dec 9 #12

Thanks Hugin. Prairie_Seagull Dec 9 #13

Been there... Hugin Dec 9 #15

I miss Word Perfect but mostly Interleaf which we RubyRose Dec 9 #16

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Dec 9 #18

A little self-control works, too Sympthsical Dec 9 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Dec 9 #25

I really held out Sympthsical Dec 9 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Dec 9 #29