On Fri, 2004-03-12 at 08:46, Charles Bradley wrote:
> While I will agree that bullying may not be the best way to go about it, we are
> going to have to self police, which means different policemen will have
> different styles, and that's just the way it is, since we don't get to "elect"
> the policemen on the list.
>
> Having said that, my personal opinion(when I'm policeman for a day....) is that
> we should try to stay positive and be gentle yet firm in enforcing the "stay on
> topic" rule, but I won't attempt to enforce MY style on any other policeman.
> By doing this, I believe we are being good internet citizens, as we help teach
> people how to properly respect large mailing lists.

IMHO I think that off-topic posts *should* be answered with a "this post
is off-topic" reply. Most of us are experienced in using lists; but many
are not. As people don't - of their own volition - learn the etiquette
of lists; we should provide them with feedback. This is always the way
that lists have run. I don't like the idea of having "policemen" in
these lists - rather rely on intelligent members such as the members
involved in this discussion.

In this spirit; I'd like to propose that whenever there is an off topic
post; we simply reply with a short message, possibly containing a link
to Eric Raymond's How to Ask Questions the Smart Way at
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html.

As for bullying: Most of the people here *do* use this list properly.
Again IMHO; people should be told in no uncertain terms if they have
posted questions that are orthogonal to - something as simple as - the
list name. If someone has put no thought into a problem they have and
simply asked for a full solution; then I have no sympathy for them if
they get flamed. I have been flamed for stupid things I have said in the
past; and have learned from them!

Remember the old adage:

"Do not meddle in the affairs of hackers for they are subtle and quick
to anger... "

bwh

--
ben@(protected)
www.javacoder.net
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