I get much good information from PLUG. I get good information from on-topic discussions and off-topic discussions. This is a community and we should talk about everything. Everything includes on and off topic things. We have the political debates once in a while but it always falls to the way side after things ccalm down. If you can't handle this community then find another one. I don't want to see you go but if you can't handle it..... On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 8:56 PM, Alan Dayley wrote: > Thanks, Matt. > > I disagree. plug-discuss is the single most important communication > channel for PLUG, bar none. The meetings are very important but the > glue that holds the group together is this email list. It is, in my > opinion, a weakness of the group that we have not created nor embraced > other communication channels. So we are very dependent on this one > email list to be the binder that holds Phoenix Linux people together. > > What makes a group? Communication, interaction, shared purpose, among > other things. PLUG is not a legal entity with by-laws or money. > There is no marketing budget. This list is it. > > OK, that sounds a bit dramatic, thinking to highly of PLUG's > importance. But, take the this list away and the group will shrink to > nearly nothing, if not die. I suppose that would not be a big > disaster in the grand scheme of the world or even just Phoenix. But > it would be a shame. > > Alan > > On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 8:41 PM, wrote: > > Allen, > > > > Its just email > > > > -Matt > > Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Alan Dayley > > Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 20:38:34 > > To: Main PLUG discussion list > > Subject: Killing PLUG softly > > > > I've stayed out of this latest round of off-topic threads. I am happy > > to see vibrant discussion. I am unhappy to see personal attacks and > > other silliness. I'm unhappy to see it go on and on. > > > > This is enough. It's just enough. > > > > I don't go to a email list or forum on topic A to be drown in > > discussions about topic W. That topic W may be important, the points > > and counter-points offered in brilliance and courtesy doesn't matter. > > If the venue is supposed to be about topic A, the majority of the > > conversation should be about topic A. Etiquette and respect for the > > community around the chosen topic dictate that other topics should be > > minimal. > > > > It doesn't matter how strongly you feel about what someone said about > > some off-topic post. Continuing to reply off-topic such that the main > > purpose of the community is drowning into the background is > > disrespectful. Don't do it. For example, it would be rude of me to > > go to a meeting of alcoholics anonymous and use my turn to talk so > > that I might espouse the benefits of a vegetarian diet. Don't do it. > > > > - Using the delete key is not the answer because that only masks the > > destruction of the group's purpose. And only masks it for one person. > > Same with filters. > > - Flagging as "OT" is helpful but when the OT posts dwarf the > > purpose-oriented information, such a tag is nearly useless. > > - Moderation is not the answer because that will suck volunteer's time > > and smacks of "babysitter-ism" Do we really need to be forced into > > good manners? Really? > > > > This is a Linux email list created by a Linux User Group for the > > purposes of discussing Linux and subjects directly related to Linux. > > Period. Politics should only be discussed when it directly effects > > Linux/OSS/FS use and promotion in some way. To continue all this > > discussion of boycotts, immigration and the like is killing the core > > meaning of the group. > > > > Stop. Please. > > > > Alan > > --------------------------------------------------- > > 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 > -- :-)~MIKE~(-: