Hello I agree (Make political discussion someplace else!). I often look for the word Linux in these extensive posts of psycho-social rhetoric.
Some times I wonder if these folks that persist in screwing up the list with their off-the-wall dissertations aren't really seeking psychotherapy rather than informed social debate. Often, when I open my mailbox, I often say: Geez, I'd pay money, if someone would just ask a good Linux Question ... (or start a genuine Linux thread). So, encourage them to just go someplace else... paulc > > From: Benjamin Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2005/01/09 Sun PM 12:54:14 EST > To: Greater NH Linux User Group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: RFC: Make political discussion off-topic by rule (was: America ...) > > > Well, once again, someone decided to barge onto the list, post some random > political diatribe that had nothing to do with Linux, and it spun into a 30+ > message thread that had nothing to do with Linux, and indeed, little to do > with anything other then general complaining. > > The long, obscure technical debates we get sucked into are bad enough. > This is too much. > > > I hereby submit the following Request For Comment to the membership of > this list: Should we make political diatribes like this explicitly off-topic > on gnhlug-discuss? > > Rationale: > > 1. Such discussion causes the legitimate Linux-and-FOSS-related discussion > to get lost in the noise. > > 2. There are many, far more appropriate forums for this type of thing, > both on-line and off. Such discussion belongs there. > > 3. This list provides a captive audience, which joined because of > interests in Linux and NH, and not politics. > > 4. The argument that "This effects Linux because politics..." is bogus > because it can be generalized for anything. Example: "I can use Linux to > control my toaster, so let's talk about bread-making recipes." The fact > that you can draw a line from N to Linux does not mean N is related to > Linux. > > 5. Unlike most other off-topic threads, political discussions of this type > tend to be loud, lengthy, and limitless, turning a minor, one-time annoyance > into a repeated, persistent problem. > > > If I get sufficient response, we can put this to a vote and we can have > our very first Official Rule in GNHLUG. > > I was *really* hoping it wouldn't come to this, but apparently some people > are too far too eager to push their pet political agendas to be able to act > like responsible, polite people. > > If someone really wants it, I'm sure we can create [EMAIL PROTECTED] to > give those interested a forum for this kind of thing. (But see point #2 > above.) > > Respectfully yours, > > -- > Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > | The opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do | > | not represent the views or policy of any other person or organization. | > | All information is provided without warranty of any kind. | > > _______________________________________________ > gnhlug-discuss mailing list > gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org > http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss > _______________________________________________ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
