9 Apr
2001
9 Apr
'01
12:04 p.m.
Sellam,
I have included comments below the referenced material.
Sellam Ismail wrote:
On Mon, 9 Apr 2001, Chad Fernandez wrote:
Personal observation of mailing list behavior.
I agree that it is off-topic. However, off-topic
discussions get
tolerated all the time. I find it disturbing that any discussions
specific to the US get blasted as being blatantly improper, rude,
offensive, or whatever.
Chad, where did you get this (erroneous) impression? Off-topic discussions usually just happen as a
consequence of topical
discussions, and it was slowly learned over the years that no matter how
much bitching and griping goes on about it, they always eventually go away
on their own.
In this case, an off-topic discussion was specifically started by Jeffrey
Worley, who all too regularly does this. Sorry, but I have to draw the
line on this, especially when someone comes to the defense of it. It is
NOT acceptable.
It varies by list, but I see off topic stuff started now and again. You
can read it, or not read it, just as easily as you can not read a thread
that started "on-topic".
Case in point: would you like me to begin a discussion
on my hemorrhoids?
I don't actually have hemorrhoids, but that's inconsequential. I want to
talk about them.
Well, if you really want to, but it's probably a thread I won't read :-)
Chad, do you want to talk about hemorrhoids?
See above :-)
I didn't think so. So why do you think it's OK to begin a discussion
about spy planes being shot down, when there are probably a hundred
threads discussing this going on at other more appropriate places?
More importantly, why do you think it's rude for anyone to object?
No, you misunderstood. I said the offenders (the US off-topic people)
are seen as "being blatantly improper, rude, offensive, or whatever." I
do get irritated by the people that see it this way.
This list is international in scope, and narrow in focus. We are a
world-wide group of individuals collected here to mainly talk about old
computers. We are not here to discuss world politics, or the US military,
or guns, or automobiles (gee, there isn't a topic I just mentioned that
wasn't brought up by Jeffrey at some point...hmmm).
Generally, I don't keep track of who brings what up.
Is that OK with you, Chad? Am I unpatriotic for insisting that we keep an
off-topic thread, of which probably only Americans and Chinese are
interested in, off a mailing list about classic computers?
Dude your are really mad, and need to cool off. It's not that big a
deal. Look at how many people are actually taking part in the thread.
If people objected that much to it, I don't think they would be actively
participating.
Hmmmm?
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
I like your sig BTW.
Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA