I
learned to program on my Dad's Commodore 64. When I started High
School, my folks got a Packard Bell. I discovered QBasic and the
internet in the same year.
I remember the old Qbasic.com. That's how I found this forum the first time.
I don't post much. I never did.
Some of you might remember me. I was really active on 2005, when Mark
first took over QBasic.com. I've got a post in the "programs you're
proud of" section. I've asked and answered a very few questions here
over the years.
But mostly I've just read the posts. I have, almost without fail, read
a page or two of posts on this forum at least once a month for just
over 10 years.
And I've learned a lot. I work as a Technical Writer at Lowe's, and the
programming that I've picked up here (and other places) has been a
tremendous boon to me. I write "macros" in VBA for Excel and Access
with extreme regularity, and I was nominated for an "Unsung Hero" award
for the automation and time-saving solutions I've been able to bring to
those workbooks / databases.
I know at this point you're smelling a lot of "I" coming off this post.
But I never knew Mac. I may have exchanged posts with him. I may not
have.
So all I can speak to with any amount of honesty is what I've learned
from this forum as a whole, just by observing it. And that's been
considerable.
When I read the first post about Mac's passing, I knew who Mac was, the
same way I know who most of the "regulars" are: MCalkins, TheBob,
mennonite, pete, etc.
But I didn't realize that Mac was as wholly responsible for the quality
of this forum as the other members have given him credit for being.
TheBob, whom I've learned a lot from just by reading his posts, credits
Mac for keeping him on the forum at all.
This forum has quite directly helped me grow as a programmer. And
therefore, though I didn't realize it until recently, Mac has helped me
grow as a programmer.
That he was able to affect me--positively without knowing me or even
knowing of me--is amazing, and a testament to the quality of this
forum, and the potential of the internet.
On this realm where ideas are shared, the cream inevitably rises, and people like me take notice and learn something.
I appreciate what I've learned here. And, when I stop to think about
it, it floors me when I realize that people I've never met, never
spoken to, and barely, barely communicated with have made a difference
in my life, and helped me become more effective at solving problems.
So I thank Mac. And I thank everyone else who contributes to this forum. Especially the regulars.
I'm here to tell all of you: you're not just helping the people that
post here with questions. You're also helping a more casual audience of
people who feel affectionately toward QBasic, and read the posts here
largely for fun.
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