[ale] Ale subscribers

[Jerald Sheets]

I'm in this camp with John & Ron.

I've been pushing Linux for corporations since we were installing the thing from floppy sets (A/B/G, anyone?)

I've done my level best to introduce and encourage as many people as is humanly possible to get on board and try out Linux, dive deeper into Linux, and even start a career in Linux, which I have done as well.

I never, but NEVER recommend anyone for this list unless:

1.  I know them personally and they have a thick enough skin to handle it
2. They've got a bare minimum of 5 years in IT and/or the industry
3. They're a recruiter looking for "-jobs"


Never would I send someone new to this list, as it just plain is off-putting.  I don't want to be responsible for what people might go through here for what would be considered "stupid, dumb, or ill-informed" questions.

That being said, the more pronounced issue is just the lack of plain civility in this group from time to time.  Vitriol, the likes of which I've just never seen, suddenly pops up and people personally attack here like I've never experienced…and I've been doing this a LONG time. 

Granted, I haven't done ALE as long as some of you.  I only hosted NW for a year, have been here about a decade, and currently moderate the -jobs list.  But I think everyone gets to have a say in this little picnic area we've cordoned off and called our own.  

I don't care who you are, if you're coming on here, hateful, spiteful, and plowing over other people, I'm going to say something.  It's in my nature, and it's who I am.  There's no call for it among civilized adults, and there's no reason (regardless of perceived slighting) to demean or otherwise demoralize another human being.  Annoying or not, imbecile or not, there's just no call for it.

THis very list inspired me to write about just such a sensibility a short 3 years ago in the "great list split debate of 2010":  

http://questy.org/2010/08/community-or-one-upsmanship/

The exact same problem is going on.  The exact same sniping and catcalling from the sidelines is going on.  As can be expected, numbers are still dwindling.  

I think the two issues are inextricably intertwined.  You may disagree, but that's ok.  The point is there is dialog and consideration, not berating, belittling, and sniping.  


My 2 cents.  Take it or leave it.

--jms


On Oct 16, 2013, at 2:38 PM, John Pilman <jcpilman at gmail.com> wrote:

> I, too, don't see ale as an effective outreach to convert new people.  I see ALE as a place where some individuals who have done some incredible outreach still get together to talk about linux.  And when new people like me stumble upon it and realize the resource they stick around.
> 
> ...John