ending unwanted threads

[Alex Dean]

I don't take any position on the flood of various ideas which have  
been flowing through this list lately.  If anything, I've been just  
hoping it would subside and I can go back to expecting that this list  
will be mainly about free software again.  Occasional political  
posting?  No problem.  Vehement political arguments?  Pointless.   
Nobody ever convinced anyone of anything by arguing via email.  I end  
up feeling a bit powerless in the face of a wave of trollery which  
doesn't seem likely to subside any time soon.

So here's what I propose : If you are tired of these off topic  
postings, and want them to cease, please just reply to the "ditching  
Apple due to boycotts" thread with an empty message body.  Leave the  
subject, but empty the body.  This should be a clear, but polite, way  
to note to the thread participants you'd rather they take the  
discussion elsewhere.

Lest I be called indifferent, ignorant, or whatever, I will say I care  
about the issues being discussed.  Absolutely.  I have my opinions  
about the topics at hand, but I don't believe an email list is a  
productive place to make those opinions known.  All the current  
climate on this list does is discourage me.

Perhaps no one else cares for my suggestion, but I feel like something  
needs to be said lest we lose this list entirely to the trolls.  So,  
if you're tired of this, reply to the "ditching Apple due to boycotts"  
thread with an empty message.  Make your (very quiet) voice known! :)

alex