Killing PLUG softly

[Alan Dayley]

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,  <matt.nesteruk at gmail.com> wrote:
> Allen,
>
> Its just email
>
> -Matt
> Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alan Dayley <alandd at consultpros.com>
> Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 20:38:34
> To: Main PLUG discussion list<plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> 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
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