Subject: Re: observation of this group
Message-ID: <3985AB49.389FA3BF@swbell.net>
From: Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
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Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 11:37:29 -0500
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Ernest writes ...
> 
 .... 

> Other groups have off topic discussions but
> they're usually about something ordinary, like the baseball scores, or the
> droughts down south. It's like their just talking about everyday life.

     Well, that sounds ... peaceful.


> This
> group, on the other hand, has become an ugly place that must seem weird to
> people who come here to get a little friendly help. It seems weird to me now
> too.
> 
> Isn't this group supposed to be about helping people? It isn't that way any
> more.

     Sure it is. Users who post questions here almost always get help; usually,
pretty quickly. A scan of several recent threads shows that, where a complete
answer is not yet posted, the explanation is usually that the questioner was
asked for some piece of information and has not yet responded.



> The only postings that get much attention these days are the ugly
> ones, and most of the legitimate questions only get a few token responses.

     Catchy sounding, but not really accurate. 



> Try carving out the extraneous bash and trash postings, and look at what's
> left. There really aren't many "on topic" questions remaining.
>

     True. In mid-summer, the number of actual questions tends to decline. With
a number of issues and project discussions going on (here and in a couple of
the sub-groups),  the posts made to ask and answer questions will seem to be
swallowed up-- especially when you sort posts by date (instead of by thread).
 


> Do any of you really care what anyone else believes about piracy? Of course
> not. I don't!  I could not care less about what any of you believe about
> copyright laws, or piracy, or whatever the angry topic of the day is today.
> It's like we're all just talking to hear ourselves speak. It's gray noise,
> and it's ugly.

     Occasionally. Some anger is unavoidable when those involved have strong
feelings. In general, the issues discussions been both relevant to II computing
and useful.

     If your idea is to condemn blatant, no-content flaming, then, very few
here are likely to disagree. Still, even the flames are much reduced from a few
years ago.


> 
> So, just for the sake of simple courtesy towards everyone else in this
> group, I humbly suggest that everyone stop for a minute, and ask yourselves
> if this is what you want the group to be like. I can answer a "NO" for me.
> Most of you probably feel the same way. Who likes to listen to the mind
> numbing sound of lips flapping in the wind?
 ....

     Actually, you do not have to. Whenever I notice that a particular thread
does not seem to be very interesting, I usually just do not read messages in
the thread.


> 
> This piracy topic is tired, boring, and lame. It's almost as bad as
> listening to politicians spew catch phrases, and it makes about as much
> difference.
>
> There are about ten or so people who consistently voice their opinions about
> the "law," and if they (myself included) just... stop, then things around
> here will change. Just let it go, people.
 ....

     Think that is about to happen. Still, you know, the "software piracy"
attacks and consequent debates about copyrights have been with us for years.
Now that the current debate appears to be winding down, it seems fair to
observe that it has been the most comprehensive as well as the most civil ever.

     My impression is that, as the debate expanded, practically everyone
involved in the two or three threads began to feel that, as far as any extended
discussion, 'this was It'. We would deal with the best arguments from each
side, hash them out, and be done with the issue, maybe for a year or two, maybe
for much longer.


> 
> Please, don't respond to this post.
 ....

     Tsk. If you do not want anyone to respond to a message, do not post it.
(Like, you could send it to yourself as an email.)



> The filter is your friend.
 ....

     For dealing with a serious spam mail problem, maybe. On a newsgroup, it is
a crutch. 



Rubywand