Re: SPAM DB 1.6.0 has been released - now OT if not originally

From: Ed Prochak <ed.prochak_at_magicinterface.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2004 01:13:33 -0500
Message-ID: <cvU1c.1586$xL.1562@fe03.usenetserver.com>

Ed Avis wrote:

> Daniel Morgan <damorgan_at_x.washington.edu> writes:
>
>

>>The definition of pornography is in the eye of the beholder and
>>perhaps the definition of spam is the same. You are not offended by
>>postings of such message and I, and apparently many other regulars,
>>are.

>
>
> You are right - others in this group support your position but I don't
> think anyone else supports mine. The majority feeling in a group must
> take precedent over what the charter says, so even though messages
> about PEAR DB or similar free software are technically within the
> charter (since they are Oracle-related and not commercial) I accept
> that they're not welcome.

You're not alone (see Joel Garry's posts) even if you are in the minority. But any good democracy needs a loyal opposition.
>
> This thread started when I saw your original response to the PEAR DB
> announcement and thought that either you were singlehandedly trying to
> enforce your own policy that wasn't what the charter says, or that you
> had mistakenly thought the message was spam when in fact it was not.
> I now see that others on this group support your position and that you
> do consider such articles spam even if they are not commercial
> advertising.
>

Usually one or two people respond with the objections and the thread dies from there. If it's a blatant spammer, they never read the thread anyway. If it's a regular poster, or someone with shared interests, they usually respond poiltely, either in the group or by mail. (I've received replies from some when I scolded them, and they were often well spoken and willing to learn.) And on rare though regular occasions, a thread like this erupts in the perenial "what's OT anyway" debate. It's good and its healthy for the group, though it can get a little stressful.

At least in technical groups like this one, the discussion actually involves some logic and little name calling.

Nice talking/debating with you. It's been interesting

-- 
Ed Prochak
running    http://www.faqs.org/faqs/running-faq/
netiquette http://www.psg.com/emily.html
--
"Two roads diverged in a wood and I
I took the one less travelled by
and that has made all the difference."
robert frost

Received on Fri Mar 05 2004 - 00:13:33 CST