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View Full Version : Are there Cyberdictators?


softdobs
02-16-2003, 05:05 PM
Yesterday, I was removed from a mailing list. I am retired and spend my winters in Arizona, and my summers in Montana. A new Linux users group was starting up in the town I live in, in Montana. I was very excited, but left before the first meeting. I was told I could participate by joining an automated mailing list. I kept sending in postings to the mailing list and got very few responses. This got me a bit frustrated and I made a few sarcastic comments about the agenda for thier third meeting. They plan to load Debian GNU/Linux on computers that interested town folks are persuaded to bring into their meeting place. My comments may have cast doubt on the wisdom of a program that may damage some strangers data files on a Windows machine, changing the boot sequence that the user may dislike, or just remove Windows all together.

Later, I attempted to set up what I called an Educational Forum with some guidelines that I posted to the mailing list. I have been collecting donated computers as a YMCA volunteer and was trying to set up a Linux educational program for when I return to Montana in June. No one responded to my proposal so I announced that I would keep sending it until someone responded because I had no way of knowing if anyone was recieving it. "While no one responds you keep getting it," in programming jargon. The person controlling the automated mailing list was the first to respond. He called my action of announcing that I would put my proposal in a while loop as inapropropriate and, without issuing a warning or asking for a consinsus from the group, informed me that my name had been removed from the mailing list and closed with good bye! I consider this as a rather lame excuse for kicking me off and expect he was looking for a way of removing somenoe who may disagree with his plans for the direction of the Users Group.

Is this common practice on mailing lists? I'll admit that I am a newbee at this sort of thing and hope for some feedback.

robbie_n
02-16-2003, 06:52 PM
If we relied on positive feedback then we'd be waiting for the usual suspects to say their praise and then we'd have to ignore the tons of mailings we receive telling us just how smart they are and how stupid they think we are ....


Hmmm... that phrase looks a tad familiar...

TRN
02-16-2003, 08:14 PM
It's difficult to know sometimes how the written word is going to be interpreted by someone else. We know what we mean.. but it isn't always conveyed properly. Sometimes we just have to relax and recognize that people are busy or are not interested in our pet projects.

Take this site project as an example. We enjoy tinkering with different distributions. If we relied on positive feedback then we'd be waiting for the usual suspects to say their praise and then we'd have to ignore the tons of mailings we receive telling us just how smart they are and how stupid they think we are ....

It's best to smile, remember who you are, and thank all of your friends for being friends.

TRN
02-17-2003, 06:58 AM
Hmmm... that phrase looks a tad familiar...

Yep, I borrow from you and the movies and ... hmm... uh oh. I lost my cue cards. fumble.

robbie_n
02-17-2003, 04:55 PM
LOL.

I want my royalties! And Hollywood wants blood!! :evil:

:roll:

TRN
02-17-2003, 05:16 PM
LOL.

I want my royalties! And Hollywood wants blood!! :evil:

:roll:

May I borrow some blood from you?

:P

robbie_n
02-17-2003, 05:25 PM
It's for sale at only $5,500 per standard unit (plus extraction costs and taxes).

TRN
02-17-2003, 05:48 PM
It's for sale at only $5,500 per standard unit (plus extraction costs and taxes).

I'd like two units please. You may send the bill via US Mail and I'll return the favor by always replying that the check is in the mail.

EMH
02-17-2003, 05:51 PM
I don't know what you are talking about, but I will take 3. Send Dad the bill! :D

robbie_n
02-18-2003, 01:02 AM
Five units are in the mail (man, do I feel weak) ;-)

I have your address already, so the bill is on its way as well 8)