[oclug] Concerned Amusement

[Brenda J. Butler]

A correction or two:

On Tue, Apr 03, 2007 at 11:46:48PM -0400, The Linux Doctor wrote:
> Hi Guys,
> 
> I've been watching the debate on OCLUG's main list  and as usual we
> have everybody missing the point.
> 
> First. The oclug at lists.oclug.on.ca is OCLUG's main list. Somebody
> must instruct the keeper of the lists that this list should appear
> first in all the lists.

OCLUG has several lists, and this board (and previous boards) have
chosen to put this list _last_ on the list of lists.

> This list was founded on the concepts of eclecticism, fundamental to
> which is that all points of view are valid as long as you can defend
> them. 'Political' correctness negates all points of view save their own.

Actually, the list was founded to talk about Linux and open-source
software.  Other things get discussed and it is tolerated.

The list didn't have a charter when it started, and the non-Linux
and non-open-source discussions (and associated flame-fests)
started to overshadow the point of the list.  But, because
the list wasn't formed with a formal "charter", the people
who insisted on talking about non-Linux and non-open-source
software wailed about "censorship" and "political correctness"
when others asked them to take their philosophical discussions
elsewhere.

So, the board made some lists where Linux and open source
software are on-topic and other items are not.  People who didn't
want to see the philosophical discussions (say, because they
aren't interested for example) left the oclug general list
and (hopefully) went to one or more of the other lists.

Other people stuck around for the open, freewheeling discussions
on oclug.

The board chooses to promote to newcomers the Linux and Linux-novice
lists as the official lists.

> I also note that the other list, despite its promotion by past
> boards, has never caught on. The OCLUG main list has also been subject
> to many attempts to kill. This must stop.

On the contrary, the lower volume on the other list being
lower than the volume here is a _feature_ to those that like that
list.

cheerio,
bjb