Hi Mike,
Am 30 Aug 2006 19:56 meinte M H Stein:
From: "Hans Franke" <Hans.Franke at
siemens.com>
<snip>
what I found was a small group of rather unique and mature people.
People that did have a real life, quite a difference to some tight bean
counters often found. This rich vault of knowledge not only includes
profound computer knowledge, but was eualy visible when the topics
discussed went astray.
...
And even the most firce discusion about weapons or cars came in a
natural way all back sooner or later to our core topic.
<snip>
Well, as is usually the case, some of the people who
later join a list are
not always as serious or mature as the founders...
Oh, we'll make them ... some will work hard to tell them
new curse words, while other (or the very same) will give
the needed insight in technology :)
So, if I understand you, you're saying that
discussions about weapons,
cars, etc. are OK on this list and will eventually die on their own, but we
definitely need a "RULE" to make sure that none of this "vault of
knowledge"
is made available to someone with a computer manufactured after August
1996?
Just the other way arround. I see it as our obligation
to bring this knowledge to our youg ones :)
Serious, I have just served 5 weeks in a 1000 sqft store
we got for an exhibition, right in the center of the city:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stiefkind/sets/72157594203840265/
Well, beside having to take up with 7 year old that tried
to convince me that all the old computers are just crap,
'cause he owns a Playstation 2 that deinitly rules, I had
also a few enlightening moments. One of the most impressing
(to me) where three youngsters - about 14-16 years, walked
in. Well, they where exactly NOT what I would consider geeks.
You know, wearing this kind of baggy pants, special hats,
souped up phones, and a slang where you'd usualy would beg
them to tilt their head, so that at least some grey matter
may find together... Now, they where spending som 15-20
minutes among the exhibition, already a way above average.
But then they discovered the Vextrex with the Logo cart. I
gave the usual short explanation with my flower example
http://www.vectorzoa.com/logo/logo_gallery_nga.html
and then I was moved asside - for the next two hours they
discovered the world of small old computers with an odd
programming environment. With their OWN ideas.
Well, I still have my doubts about some cloth, but it agin
gave me hope. There are as many out there as there have been
20 years ago - they are just well hidden, so yes, we have to
be open to all.
You're not worried that allowing discussions of
the relative merits
of a Luger vs. a Glock will turn this list into a weapons forum, as some
people are about new-ish computers?
No, call me an optimistic fool, but I belive in people.
And the main interest of the people gathered her are
computers, so it's natural that all comes back to
computers and there go to the more unusual, crude or
just cool stuff, which again will be 99.5% happen to
be classic. Gives a quite good ratio I think.
And again, this is why this list was so different from
all the other classic or techlists I know. Real people
with real knowledge with a comon denominator - but not
tight bolt down to it.
BTW, definitly the Glock :)
Hans, I respect you enormously, but this is just
silly. And as far as
Jay being some kind of autocratic czar, _obviously_ from time to time
this list needs someone with some authority and control to step in and
get things back on track (unfortunately).
If we need a rule (for what they're worth) I think
the only relevant one is that
discussions here have something to do with *COMPUTERS*!
Usualy these spin offs came from computer issues. I can't
realy remember one that was brought off on its own.
Considering the disdain prevailing here for users of
PCs and anything from
Seattle, I'd think that anyone asking how to install XP Home on his Athlon
will either be ignored or quickly taken off-list; what are you guys getting so
exercised and anal about?
???
It is exactly that self ruling, that I want to keep and
nurture. Any kind of hard rules will just feed the some
tight guys to go rule fighing. Thus the 109 year rule
always has just been a gudeline for some new menbers to
get into the right seting ... and then enjoy the freedom
the list is/has.
Gruss
H.
--
VCF Europa 8.0 am 28/29.April 2007 in Muenchen
http://www.vcfe.org/