[ale] New Mailing List initiatives for ALE

[Preston Boyington]

James P. Kinney III wrote:
<parts snipped to save us from JPK3>

> As far as any degree of moderation goes, I don't think that any one of
> us is qualified to decide what _I_ get to read or not read other than
> me. I suspect that everyone, even the loudest tantrum tossers, on the
> list shares that sentiment. 

I agree.  Although some might not find this list as structured as they
like, I have found it a comfortable and knowledgeable place to ask my
questions and converse.

I am not a trained sysadmin, nor am I technically responsible for
anyone's computers but my own.  I am a Designer/Draftsman by trade and I
use Linux/Open Source software as much as possible.  Therefore, most of
my problems are from a user perspective rather than a support or
corporate type of mindset.

When I first started using Linux (in the mid to late 90's) I had no clue
about what to do (arguably I'm not much better now).  After a while I
found ALE and was pleased that I didn't get hit with a lot of "RTFM!!!"
type of responses.  Most people gathered that I was a newbie and treated
me well.

It seemed that here people were more accepting of my flippancy (even if
they didn't always get my skewed humor) and I started solving my
computer issues with the groups help.

> I am quite certain I have been on the ALE list since around 1996 or so.

Ok, I don't know how long I have been subscribed to ALE, but I have
annoyed Geoffrey on countless occasions and would swear that Bob Toxen
egged my house once.

> Several years ago...a nasty thread erupted into a flame war.

I also seem to remember a woman asking some various questions and was
blasted for them.  She promptly unsubscribed and several of us issued
private and list apologies.

Any time more than one person is in a room you will have conflicting
ideas and methodologies.  ALE has been one of the few places that is
more accepting of this and the majority of people are more than willing
to go out of their way to assist others.

> I don't want to see _any_ of this change. The tech notes, the blather,
> the jokes, the tips, the _community_ (warts and all)... [is] the
> general philosophy of the operating system around which this community
> has been formed.

I feel the same way.

> If enough people are knicker-twisted enough to want to generate a NEW
> list with strict moderation controls, great. Problem solved. All the
> people whose tolerance level for a bit of off topic crap will flood to
> sign up. Of course to keep it pristine, the inner-circle organizers will
> need to police the membership list keep out the undesirables.
> 
> They won't see my name crossing the "request approval to join" list.

so no ALE-STRICTLY-MODERATED-TO-KEEP-RAMBLING-IDIOTS-OUT for you too, huh?

> I'm at home here.

Likewise (possibly much to the disdain of some).