Can we please just start using the OT: header in the subject line? On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:56 PM, Mike Schwartz wrote: >> [...] please just reply [...] >> [...] with an empty message body [...] > I agree with this idea / suggestion from Alex Dean. > For one thing, I agree that some of the more "heated" discussions, probably > should take place -- [if at all], -- in some other forum.  (outside any PLUG > list). > But even if someone should "happen" to hold the opposite viewpoint on that > "matter of opinion", the fact remains that sending a message with a blank > body, is NOT MUCH of an imposition by the sender, on the time of the > potential reader.  In fact, NO MORE -- (probably less!) -- than when > compared with an instance of the sending of an "OT: " message that is adding > to the length of some thread that is tiresome to certain PLUG-Discuss > participants. > To add to the advantages of that suggestion from Alex Dean, it does not > require any exercising of judgment by some admin with special list > supervising privileges, such as some << power to retroactively prefix the > string "OT: " to the start of the "Subject: " header title of some existing > thread >>, nor any hardware / software features that we do not already have, > nor any organizational "committees" or group structures that we do not > already have, -- and it is fairly easy to do. > Technically, I guess the [allegedly] offending mis-users of the "space / > time" on PLUG-Discuss, are even free to ignore the "advice", and to keep > their "OT: " thread right here on PLUG-Discuss, -- [for a while!] -- if they > think it is right / necessary to do so.  ...but if there are repeated blank > messages, then eventually readers might start contacting them OFF LIST, to > try to persuade / "encourage" them to relent. > The ["die hard"] thread participants [if any], could also feel free to move > the thread to some "unobtrusive" place, like alt.flame or something, where > any reader who happens upon it, is asking for it; but at least, they do have > the option of continuing their thread without bothering those PLUG-Discuss > readers who have "hinted" that they are tired of a given thread. > (for practical purposes, maybe just moving a given thread "off-list", and > using e-mail between those who want to continue the thread, might be a > better choice.  But I do not expect to be one of the die hards .. :-) > As has been noted in the past, there might be some newcomers, who might be > impressionable, and we might not want to scare them away.  They might > be newcomers to Linux / FLOSS, as well as to PLUG-Discuss.  Having a way to > politely suggest that the participants in a given thread, can continue > the thread "somewhere else" -- but, we "hope", not in PLUG-Discuss -- could > prove to be a convenient and useful way of "hinting" and getting that > message across -- without having to do a lot of typing (oops, am I setting a > bad example with *this* message? ...) and without even "seeming" to be > un-fairly "discriminating" for or against either side of the "OT: " > [[debate]] -- INCLUDING even by the choice of "when" the thread should get > moved (even e.g. right after some supposedly "un-deserving" opponent, has > just gotten the last word that was "before the move".) > So -- (bottom line:) -- GOOD IDEA. > -- > Mike Schwartz > Glendale  AZ > schwartz@acm.org > On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 7:45 PM, Bryan O'Neal > wrote: >> >> Please use the OT subject prefix - Please filter on the OT subject >> prefix - Please reduce the total number of OT threads. >> >> Personally - I find the discussions interesting and 1 out of every 5 >> or 10 posts may actually teach me something I did not know on the >> subject. As such I get sucked in just as much if not worst then most >> so, as a flame fanner, I feel I should agree that this is not the best >> forum. >> >> On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 7:37 PM, Alex Dean wrote: >> > I don't take any position on the flood of various ideas which have been >> > flowing through this list lately.  If anything, I've been just hoping it >> > would subside and I can go back to expecting that this list will be >> > mainly >> > about free software again.  Occasional political posting?  No problem. >> >  Vehement political arguments?  Pointless.  Nobody ever convinced anyone >> > of >> > anything by arguing via email.  I end up feeling a bit powerless in the >> > face >> > of a wave of trollery which doesn't seem likely to subside any time >> > soon. >> > >> > So here's what I propose : If you are tired of these off topic postings, >> > and >> > want them to cease, please just reply to the "ditching Apple due to >> > boycotts" thread with an empty message body.  Leave the subject, but >> > empty >> > the body.  This should be a clear, but polite, way to note to the thread >> > participants you'd rather they take the discussion elsewhere. >> > >> > Lest I be called indifferent, ignorant, or whatever, I will say I care >> > about >> > the issues being discussed.  Absolutely.  I have my opinions about the >> > topics at hand, but I don't believe an email list is a productive place >> > to >> > make those opinions known.  All the current climate on this list does is >> > discourage me. >> > >> > Perhaps no one else cares for my suggestion, but I feel like something >> > needs >> > to be said lest we lose this list entirely to the trolls.  So, if you're >> > tired of this, reply to the "ditching Apple due to boycotts" thread with >> > an >> > empty message.  Make your (very quiet) voice known! :) >> > >> > alex >> > --------------------------------------------------- >> > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss