Sellam,
I have included comments below the referenced material.
Sellam Ismail wrote:
>
> On Mon, 9 Apr 2001, Chad Fernandez wrote:
>
> > 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?
Personal observation of mailing list behavior.
> 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
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
I like your sig BTW.
Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA
Received on Mon Apr 09 2001 - 19:04:57 BST