[oclug] How does that saying go?

[Brad Barnett]

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 19:19:59 -0400
"Andrew J. Hutton" <ajh at linuxsymposium.org> wrote:

> 
> I would like to make public that at the next general meeting I would
> like to bring a membership vote on this issue.  The exact details will
> be determined and posted prior to the meeting.

Let's just make sure that there's a "clarity bill" for OCLUG votes as
well, shall we?  In other words, phrasing the vote question, such as:

"Shall OCLUG provide a general discussion list, wasting its resources"

would be extremely dishonest, and non-factual.. 

However, a question such as:

"Shall OCLUG _CONTINUE_ to provide a General discussion list, that MANY
MEMBERS enjoy AS A GENERAL OCLUG DISCUSSION LIST, that has run since
BEFORE OCLUG existed in its current state?"

Would be more prudent.  A vote whos question is slanted, is dishonest,
sneaky, and untruthful... and a dishonest sneaky vote certainly won't be
respected by someone such as myself.  I'm sure that there are quite a few
others that feel precisely the same way.  

So, if you're going to have a general vote at the next meeting about this,
make sure that it is a referendum style vote.  Make sure that people can
vote by proxy.  Make sure that the vote question is not slanted and
tainted, so as to result in the outcome you desire.  Make sure that the
membership has more than 10 seconds to think about the vote, which means
you post the question at ONE meeting, and vote at the NEXT.  People have a
right to know precisely what they are voting for, not be put on the spot. 
People have a right to THINK about the vote they are about to cast.. and
not in a rushed manner either.

Are you prepared to do all these things, or is your intent to just have a
phantom vote, designed to provide an air of legitimacy to your actions?

Furthermore, OCLUG's mandate is more than just the promotion of linux. 
Without people, its textual mandate is senseless.  OCLUG is about creating
a community.  This list is an ONLINE community, just as valid and useful
to the OCLUG membership as a once-a-month physical meeting.  There are
members that do not bother with meetings, and there are members that do
not bother with mailing lists.  That does not invalidate either member, or
service.


> 
> 
> On Thursday 17 June 2004 17:44, Brad Barnett wrote:
> > On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 17:27:46 -0400
> >
> > "Andrew J. Hutton" <ajh at steamballoon.com> wrote:
> > > Please keep this list on-topic.  The topic is Linux just in case
> > > anyone has forgotten.
> >
> > Actually, the topic is "General Membership Discussions".  That is,
> > discussion pertinent to OCLUG members.  Simply because someone has
> > changed the definition of the list on the webpage, as of late, does
> > not mean that the list will change on a whim.
> >
> > If you want a different list, CREATE IT... if it has value, people
> > will use it.  Do not try to change the direction of THIS list, it was
> > fine before people started poking it with a stick.  OCLUG members need
> > a general discussion list, as OCLUG members tend to see the world in a
> > different way than others.  This is a community.  Not a dead, dry,
> > Linux only discussion list.
> >
> > > On Thursday 17 June 2004 17:14, Francis J. A. Pinteric wrote:
> > > > On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 16:57:19 -0400
> > > >
> > > > Zac Sprackett <zsprackett-oclug at sprackett.com> wrote:
> > > > > Please stop... This is not the forum to keep hammering on us
> > > > > with your political views..
> > > >
> > > > Hook, line and sinker.... lol.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > . Do you feel you need to keep posting this here
> > > >
> > > > > because you did not get enough subscribers to your crackpot
> > > > > political theory / linux list?  If that is the case maybe you
> > > > > should take the hint.
> > > >
> > > > <More chuckes>.  It's political correctness that is the crackpot
> > > > political theory. When are YOU going to stop promoting such
> > > > nonsense?
> > > >
> > > > >>>--fja->
> > >
> > > --
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> > > OCLUG at lists.oclug.on.ca
> > > http://www.oclug.on.ca/mailman/listinfo/oclug
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