Re: observation of this group

[Roy and/or Janet Miller <millers@inetnebr.com>]

Oh my! Rubywand and I in 100% agreement!?! This has got to stop!

<VBG>

Roy

Rubywand wrote:

> Ernest writes ...
> >
>  ....
>
> > Other groups have off topic discussions but
> > they're usually about something ordinary, like the baseball scores, or the
> > droughts down south. It's like their just talking about everyday life.
>
>      Well, that sounds ... peaceful.
>
> > This
> > group, on the other hand, has become an ugly place that must seem weird to
> > people who come here to get a little friendly help. It seems weird to me now
> > too.
> >
> > Isn't this group supposed to be about helping people? It isn't that way any
> > more.
>
>      Sure it is. Users who post questions here almost always get help; usually,
> pretty quickly. A scan of several recent threads shows that, where a complete
> answer is not yet posted, the explanation is usually that the questioner was
> asked for some piece of information and has not yet responded.
>
> > The only postings that get much attention these days are the ugly
> > ones, and most of the legitimate questions only get a few token responses.
>
>      Catchy sounding, but not really accurate.
>
> > Try carving out the extraneous bash and trash postings, and look at what's
> > left. There really aren't many "on topic" questions remaining.
> >
>
>      True. In mid-summer, the number of actual questions tends to decline. With
> a number of issues and project discussions going on (here and in a couple of
> the sub-groups),  the posts made to ask and answer questions will seem to be
> swallowed up-- especially when you sort posts by date (instead of by thread).
>
>
> > Do any of you really care what anyone else believes about piracy? Of course
> > not. I don't!  I could not care less about what any of you believe about
> > copyright laws, or piracy, or whatever the angry topic of the day is today.
> > It's like we're all just talking to hear ourselves speak. It's gray noise,
> > and it's ugly.
>
>      Occasionally. Some anger is unavoidable when those involved have strong
> feelings. In general, the issues discussions been both relevant to II computing
> and useful.
>
>      If your idea is to condemn blatant, no-content flaming, then, very few
> here are likely to disagree. Still, even the flames are much reduced from a few
> years ago.
>
> >
> > So, just for the sake of simple courtesy towards everyone else in this
> > group, I humbly suggest that everyone stop for a minute, and ask yourselves
> > if this is what you want the group to be like. I can answer a "NO" for me.
> > Most of you probably feel the same way. Who likes to listen to the mind
> > numbing sound of lips flapping in the wind?
>  ....
>
>      Actually, you do not have to. Whenever I notice that a particular thread
> does not seem to be very interesting, I usually just do not read messages in
> the thread.
>
> >
> > This piracy topic is tired, boring, and lame. It's almost as bad as
> > listening to politicians spew catch phrases, and it makes about as much
> > difference.
> >
> > There are about ten or so people who consistently voice their opinions about
> > the "law," and if they (myself included) just... stop, then things around
> > here will change. Just let it go, people.
>  ....
>
>      Think that is about to happen. Still, you know, the "software piracy"
> attacks and consequent debates about copyrights have been with us for years.
> Now that the current debate appears to be winding down, it seems fair to
> observe that it has been the most comprehensive as well as the most civil ever.
>
>      My impression is that, as the debate expanded, practically everyone
> involved in the two or three threads began to feel that, as far as any extended
> discussion, 'this was It'. We would deal with the best arguments from each
> side, hash them out, and be done with the issue, maybe for a year or two, maybe
> for much longer.
>
> >
> > Please, don't respond to this post.
>  ....
>
>      Tsk. If you do not want anyone to respond to a message, do not post it.
> (Like, you could send it to yourself as an email.)
>
> > The filter is your friend.
>  ....
>
>      For dealing with a serious spam mail problem, maybe. On a newsgroup, it is
> a crutch.
>
> Rubywand