I agree, the people who are complaining about 'Off Topic' just don't want to hear what is being said. It's a few emails- it's so disastrous? These topics are very much about Arizona, and they WILL effect us all. Some people just want to reify the discussion because thats a very effective way to make it go away. -jmz On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 9:17 PM, Michael Havens wrote: > I get much good information from PLUG. I get good information from on-topic > discussions and off-topic discussions. This is a community and we should > talk about everything. Everything includes on and off topic things. We have > the political debates once in a while but it always falls to the way side > after things ccalm down. If you can't handle this community then find > another one. I don't want to see you go but if you can't handle it..... > > > On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 8:56 PM, Alan Dayley wrote: > >> Thanks, Matt. >> >> I disagree. plug-discuss is the single most important communication >> channel for PLUG, bar none. The meetings are very important but the >> glue that holds the group together is this email list. It is, in my >> opinion, a weakness of the group that we have not created nor embraced >> other communication channels. So we are very dependent on this one >> email list to be the binder that holds Phoenix Linux people together. >> >> What makes a group? Communication, interaction, shared purpose, among >> other things. PLUG is not a legal entity with by-laws or money. >> There is no marketing budget. This list is it. >> >> OK, that sounds a bit dramatic, thinking to highly of PLUG's >> importance. But, take the this list away and the group will shrink to >> nearly nothing, if not die. I suppose that would not be a big >> disaster in the grand scheme of the world or even just Phoenix. But >> it would be a shame. >> >> Alan >> >> On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 8:41 PM, wrote: >> > Allen, >> > >> > Its just email >> > >> > -Matt >> > Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: Alan Dayley >> > Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 20:38:34 >> > To: Main PLUG discussion list >> > Subject: Killing PLUG softly >> > >> > I've stayed out of this latest round of off-topic threads. I am happy >> > to see vibrant discussion. I am unhappy to see personal attacks and >> > other silliness. I'm unhappy to see it go on and on. >> > >> > This is enough. It's just enough. >> > >> > I don't go to a email list or forum on topic A to be drown in >> > discussions about topic W. That topic W may be important, the points >> > and counter-points offered in brilliance and courtesy doesn't matter. >> > If the venue is supposed to be about topic A, the majority of the >> > conversation should be about topic A. Etiquette and respect for the >> > community around the chosen topic dictate that other topics should be >> > minimal. >> > >> > It doesn't matter how strongly you feel about what someone said about >> > some off-topic post. Continuing to reply off-topic such that the main >> > purpose of the community is drowning into the background is >> > disrespectful. Don't do it. For example, it would be rude of me to >> > go to a meeting of alcoholics anonymous and use my turn to talk so >> > that I might espouse the benefits of a vegetarian diet. Don't do it. >> > >> > - Using the delete key is not the answer because that only masks the >> > destruction of the group's purpose. And only masks it for one person. >> > Same with filters. >> > - Flagging as "OT" is helpful but when the OT posts dwarf the >> > purpose-oriented information, such a tag is nearly useless. >> > - Moderation is not the answer because that will suck volunteer's time >> > and smacks of "babysitter-ism" Do we really need to be forced into >> > good manners? Really? >> > >> > This is a Linux email list created by a Linux User Group for the >> > purposes of discussing Linux and subjects directly related to Linux. >> > Period. Politics should only be discussed when it directly effects >> > Linux/OSS/FS use and promotion in some way. To continue all this >> > discussion of boycotts, immigration and the like is killing the core >> > meaning of the group. >> > >> > Stop. Please. >> > >> > Alan >> > --------------------------------------------------- >> > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > --------------------------------------------------- >> > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > > > > -- > :-)~MIKE~(-: > >