[GRLUG] So long.

[Bob Kline]

OK (mostly) guys, I'm attaching notes
from about 18 months ago when the group
censoring issue went around the last time.
Pretty clearly a number of strong willed
individuals still believe it's their role to
define the scope of discussion in this group,
and what I think has happened is that
someone attempted to overtly filter material
they don't like. The mention of a moderator
did not pop up by accident, and I believe it's
part of an unfinished attempt by someone to
explicitly block what they don't like. Ballsy
and arrogant, it is nevertheless what it seems.

I'm the one who started the "NOT LINUX"
subject line in an effort to appease what I'll
still call the gang of four, who, in the snippets
below, make their own case.  They simply
don't like content they  don't approve of, even
if it's trivial to avoid.  The reasons strike me
as pure BS, since during the last 10 years
that I've participated in the group there was
mostly room for more general computer
discussions that people could participate in
or not, at their discretion.

So, I guess the group is mostly about about
those want answers to their IT job problems,
solutions to their hobby projects, and whatever
else they deem appropriate.  I'll remind you of
the ever so interesting flame wars in the past
about posting at the top or bottom of e-mails.
If that wasn't inane I don't know the meaning
of the word.  But many here participated with
gusto, as though the whole thing had any real
meaning at all.  And of course there was
nervous Greg, who never could cope with the
notion of not getting his way, and left after a
few disparaging remarks about the rest of us
Neanderthals.

But there are limits to everything, and as
some here suggest, other venues.  And of course
others with more wide ranging interests, even
within the scope of computing.  So I'll be on
my way as well.  Like Mike, I don't want my
bandwidth absorbed by anything I don't like -
all 600 GB a month of it.  And like Dave
Pembroke, I shouldn't have to suffer affronts
to a pure world of narrow technological interests
just because some commercial yahoos want
to take over the Internet.  Like him, I don't have
time for it any more either.  Yup.  I only know
what I like, and that's good enough for anybody.

To some of the rest of you, it's been a pleasure.
One learns things, and hopefully contributes a
little.  Godwin, it would have been interesting to
see you at least once, but as a background
presence - to me anyway - the group is your
baby, and has mostly helped the world move
forward.

   -- Bob



****************************

Adam Tauno Williams awilliam at whitemice.org
via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 grlug.org
9/30/11
to grlug
[all content removed]

I have no issue with the occasion off-topic post or thread-tangent ...
but this is getting *old*.   The over-and-over "NOT LINUX" subject line
should indicate: find somewhere else to post - somewhere where this is
on-topic.

There *are* forums and lists dedicated to net-neutrality and related
issues [which all these "NOT LINUX' posts seem to be about].  Join one
of those if that is your focus.  There isn't even any variety of topic
in this off-topic posts.

*****************************

David Pembrook david at pembrook.net
via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 grlug.org
9/30/11
to awilliam, Mailing
On 9/30/2011 11:16 AM, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:

> [all content removed]
>
> I have no issue with the occasion off-topic post or thread-tangent ...
> but this is getting *old*.   The over-and-over "NOT LINUX" subject line
> should indicate: find somewhere else to post - somewhere where this is
> on-topic.
>
> There *are* forums and lists dedicated to net-neutrality and related
> issues [which all these "NOT LINUX' posts seem to be about].  Join one
> of those if that is your focus.  There isn't even any variety of topic
> in this off-topic posts.


****************************

Michael Mol mikemol at gmail.com
via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 grlug.org
9/30/11
to awilliam, Mailing
On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 11:16 AM, Adam Tauno Williams
<awilliam at whitemice.org> wrote:
> [all content removed]
>
> I have no issue with the occasion off-topic post or thread-tangent ...
> but this is getting *old*.   The over-and-over "NOT LINUX" subject line
> should indicate: find somewhere else to post - somewhere where this is
> on-topic.
>
> There *are* forums and lists dedicated to net-neutrality and related
> issues [which all these "NOT LINUX' posts seem to be about].  Join one
> of those if that is your focus.  There isn't even any variety of topic
> in this off-topic posts.

Concur. Even within the topic, it's rehashing the same points over and
over again. It's really, really old. I wasn't going to bite on this
last one, but I'm happy to agree that it's not useful or interesting
on this list any more.

***************************

Benjamin Flanders flanderb at gmail.com
via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 grlug.org
9/30/11
to Mailing
Nothing against any of you, you are all more knowledgeable than I, but
I say whats the damage?  I don't particularly watch the politics, but
I just ignore the threads I don't want to read.  Gmail makes this easy
with "mute"(others should have this feature as well) but I don't even
go that far, I usually open skim then archive.  if it a thread I don't
even want to skim, I just archive.  No harm no foul.

I kinda have to agree with Bob on this.  Why tamp down ANY discussion,
when it is easy to just ignore or mute it.  You might create an
environment where newbies are afraid to ask a question.

Just my thoughts


Share and Enjoy
Ben

*************************


Michael Mol mikemol at gmail.com
via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 grlug.org
9/30/11
to Mailing
On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 12:03 PM, Benjamin Flanders <flanderb at gmail.com>
wrote:
> Nothing against any of you, you are all more knowledgeable than I, but
> I say whats the damage?  I don't particularly watch the politics, but
> I just ignore the threads I don't want to read.  Gmail makes this easy
> with "mute"(others should have this feature as well) but I don't even
> go that far, I usually open skim then archive.  if it a thread I don't
> even want to skim, I just archive.  No harm no foul.
>
> I kinda have to agree with Bob on this.  Why tamp down ANY discussion,
> when it is easy to just ignore or mute it.  You might create an
> environment where newbies are afraid to ask a question.
>
> Just my thoughts

It doesn't stop those of us with smartphones from receiving email
after email, alert after alert on the subject. (A little harder to
filter things out that way)

************************

Steve Romanow slestak989 at gmail.com
via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 grlug.org
9/30/11
to Mailing
Mute works on droid gmail app.  Just saying.
*************************

mailtonick mailtonick at gmail.com
via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 grlug.org
9/30/11
to Mailing
Most users on here are intelligent enough to determine if the (off)
topic is relevant to the group. Some of these OTs are interesting, and
surely some are WTF?s.
In any case, a quick filter for "off topic" OR "not linux", and delete
solves the problem for me.
- Nick

****************************

David Pembrook david at pembrook.net
via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 grlug.org
9/30/11
to Mailing
That really doesn't work as threads evolve and the subject doesn't always
change with the topic. Sure you can add the filter but unless we create
rules for identifying off topic threads, your going to delete more mail
than intended in the long run.  With mail going to multiple devices on
multiple platforms its a pain in the neck.

This is really about what we want to talk about as a group here. What about
religion? We have politics now...

The person who started this when criticized, had to get personal calling us
a gang of 4. He just shows how weak his position is that way. I would label
his comments more against free speech than those of us that would like
political topics in political forums. I like a good political discussion,
but is that what this forum is about?

This isn't about one post, this is about long off topic threads.

Dave
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