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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/15/2013 05:54 PM, Aaron Ruscetta
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CADRfxXdGMj1WDBZsGcwn9sihmreiNAZL2Hy17_QDJQE_xfGRiw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I also strongly disapprove of any content censorship or "rules",
especially when those are set by a single person who would assume
they can be the DICTATOR simply because they are presently the
moderator. If the you don't want to moderate the list because you can't
be the DICTATOR, then step aside. It you want to be an equitable
moderator, then call for democratic input on what courtesies should
be expected here or step aside and invite someone else to volunteer
who would maintain the list in an equitable and democrative manner.
My view is ALE is a mirror of the anarchy, meritocracy and community
ideals that created and sustain the Open Source Software movement.
As a long time contributor to this group, I believe it is the responsibility
of supporting volunteers and the expectation for participating members
to respect those ideals. This means that anyone in a moderator role
should moderate our resources with moderation.</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
I do not believe that the action <i>was</i> unilaterally taken, but
that would be solely based on knowing Jim. Indeed taking, well, Jim
into consideration, I'd have to assume there is some quite rational
cause provoked outside of the list itself.<br>
<br>
I, for one, do agree that the central Linux list should be, well,
about Linux. Not Microsoft Windows, not what I ate for breakfast,
and so forth.<br>
<br>
I, personally, feel much more motivated to post knowing that the
environment is <i>expected</i> to be on-topic.<br>
<br>
I also have no objections to meta discussion, e.g., discussion about
the list itself. I would expect that to be quite on-topic.<br>
<br>
Furthermore, having been an active reader and not always (and less
and less) a participant in the list, I am honestly surprised that it
did not happen sooner. I don't know about anyone else, but I got
sick of reading about Windows in a list not about that, and
especially not discussing e.g., the integration of (either Windows
with a Linux network or Linux with a Windows network). I find posts
about non-Linux-related Microsoft software totally irrelevant and
off-putting—at least, on <i>this</i> list. I also did not
appreciate the times where I had to essentially ignore the list
because I didn't have the bloody time or resources to figure out
what was blather and what was something I could usefully contribute
to.<br>
<br>
Perhaps your post would have been a little more useful if it were to
offer constructive criticism, instead of quite unnecessary—and
wholly out of context, though again I base that on the
aforementioned assumptions I am making—damnation.<br>
<br>
Perhaps you'd move for the creation of ale-admin, intended for the
discussion of consensus related to admin issues? Though I think for
the size of the current volunteer pool that might be a smidge
overburdenous and thus unfair.<br>
<br>
The list administrator—at least on other lists that I'm on, many of
which are F/OSS lists—is empowered with the <i>responsibility</i>
of maintaining the list,<b> including stepping in when the shit hits
the fan.</b> I'd argue that includes the technical aspects of
moderation as well as intervention on the list when it gets out of
hand. That's what the bloody admin is <i>for</i> on any list.<br>
<br>
And honestly? He was far more patient than I would have been. <i><b>By
leaps and bloody bounds.</b></i> But that is why I would never
volunteer for a position such as that.<br>
<br>
— Mike<br>
<br>
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<td> Michael B. Trausch<br>
<br>
President, <strong>Naunet Corporation</strong><br>
☎ (678) 287-0693 x130 or (855) NAUNET-1 x130<br>
FAX: (678) 783-7843<br>
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