Age cutoff, was: Recommendations for operating system

That is an interesting use of the word "professional". I find the members of this list extremely non-professional in their list conduct, and yes, it all comes down to the noise level. There are way too many people here that like to post off topic threads, or steer threads very off topic. Sure, a little happens - even I have done my bit - but not stretching out OT threads for days at a time, with dozens of messages. I am, or have been on a great deal of lists, ranging from old and new computers, old radios, military surplus, mushrooms, forts, mining, railroad junk, history, and loads of others. The people on this list are by far the worst offenders for disregarding list charters and rules. Very little self control, and too lazy to post off topic questions on the myriad of other lists that are online. Why is this? Did their mother's not teach them any manners? Do they think it is OK to bring up topics in the real world at inappropriate times? Perhaps talking politics during a football game? Or maybe talking about one's ex on a date? Or reminiscing about aged beef in a vegetarian restaurant? Also, does it not bother these people that obviously the whole OT issue has been brought up before, and generates flames and anger for many list members? Do these people not think the perhaps many folks just do not want to hear another talk about Linux or Pentiums? Do these people think they are special or clever by exploiting a loophole in the charter so they can ask about some machine that 90 percent of us find extremely boring? It is no wonder non-computer people view us as a bunch of arrogant, pasty skinned, social wastoid trogs. Because too many of us ARE. Apparently too smart and clever to have actually listened to our mother's when it came to manners. I hope this does not sound like a slam to Jay - I think he is doing a job that most of us would not (or could not) do. It is, however, a slam to more than a few lists members... -- Will