Is this possible? (Storage) (Off-topic?)

From: J. Maynard Gelinas <maynard_at_jmg.com>
Date: Sun Apr 12 16:15:03 1998

       I've been putting off my response to this message because I was
       a little annoyed and didn't want to toss out a flame which
       could erupt into another list war. I've calmed down now and
       simply want to go over those points which I consider salient,
       without writing a flame-bait reply.

> From: Sam Ismail <dastar_at_wco.com>
> Subject: Re: Is this possible? (Storage) (Off-topic?)
>
>
> This is hopefully the last public post I'll (have to) make about this
> tired topic. I just wish people would have the intelligence to realize
> the error of insisting on posting non-relevant material to this
> discussion, but it just seems like a lost cause.
>
> On Fri, 10 Apr 1998, J. Maynard Gelinas wrote:
>
> > Please stop trying to bully people around on the list, Sam.
>
> First of all, next time post this message privately where it belongs.
> This also goes for any replies to this message (please?)

       Sam, since you wrote the first message publicly, I replied in
       public. If you're going to post a flame, even a 'Stay on
       topic' flame - in public - expect public replies. Let me
       simply state that I didn't consider Tim Hotze's message noise,
       but respectable signal - especially since he had the courtesy
       to note the message as possibly off topic. And hell, the
       thread migrated to an interesting on charter discussion
       anyway.

       [snip]

>
> > For the last few days you've been acting like you run the show
> > again. Please stop. Please treat the list members like the
> > adults they are, especially long standing members like Tim. Even
> > Enrico, who I admit has annoyed me as well, deserves better
> > treatment. You have the option to delete and filter... use it
> > (see man procmail).
>
> If wanting to preserve this list for what it is rather than have it
> descend into a murky pool of nonsense that has nothing to do with what we
> joined it for, then yeah, I'm guilty of that. As for treating people like
> adults, Tim is 12. Enough said about that. Basically though, if people
> who want to be a part of this list will have the courtesy, as adults, to
> take care that this discussion stays within its intended bounds, their
> courtesy will be returned in kind. That's all. Very simple.

        I want to pay special attention to this point. I had _no_
        idea Tim is twelve, but honestly, I don't think it matters one
        bit. I stand by what I wrote before, be he twelve or of legal
        age; he's written more signal than noise on the group and
        deserves to be treated as such. Given that the 'other'
        current flame war going on is being perpetuated by 'adults' in
        the legal sense, I'll take Tims' occasional off topic posts
        anyday over that garbage.

        And again, let me suggest procmail as a filtering agent. I've
        filtered everything out Enrico posts and find it quite
        refreshing. If you find the stuff Tim writes that disturbing,
        why not just filter it out? It saves us all from reading
        those angry 'keep on topic!' posts, and in general limits the
        bad feelings all around.

        [snip]

--jmg

ps - I've tried to write this with diplomacy in mind. If anyone has
something _angry_ to say, please just email me personally. Otherwise,
use your judgement.
Received on Sun Apr 12 1998 - 16:15:03 BST