Hi, My apologies for sending this message here, but I wasn't sure where to complain. I've been an off-and-on debian user over the years. Lately I've used RedHat at work. I was thinking of trying Debian again, and heard about Ubuntu. I could find very little on the web compairing Ubuntu with Debian. I wanted to know a little more before making a choice, and a word or two from an experienced person would be enough. I thought my problem was solved when I found: http://www.us.debian.org/support and the mention of 'On-line Real Time Help Using IRC'. Unfortunately this did not work out as planned. I was almost immediately banned for even mentioning Ubuntu. This when I had found someone with real-life deb and ubu experience ('det'). After the ban was lifted, the operator "dondelecaro' refused to answer my question about complaining about this annoying ban, and in fact banned me again when I mentioned this fact. Another user suggested that I send a message to this list. Let me say first that I don't expect much to come from this complaint. I understand fully well that Debian is organized and run by volunteers. Furthermore, my case is not clear cut since I wasn't shut down for asking about "KDE" when the moderator really only wanted to talk about "Gnome", for example. My query bordered on an advocacy like discussion. However, I think I was careful to keep it nuetral - I really just wanted to know what value-add ubuntu has over Debian that has given it such a buzz. In addition, the operator gave me no external link to read or alternative channel (with the exception of telling me to take it to #ubuntu which I frankly don't see why an op there wouldn't tell me to go to #debian...) If in fact I was in the wrong, I apologize, but if that's the case it's quite possible (even likely) that many users will be steered toward debian's IRC channel with the wrong expectations. Perhaps a disclaimer should be placed in the http://www.us.debian.org/support page that states, "The debian IRC channel is for technical support only. In other words, you should be posting nothing but error messages and the occasional config file. No other traffic will be tolerated." That would properly set user expectations. As it is, I feel a little abused by "dondelecaro". In terms of corrective action, if I was wrong then the support page should be adjusted. If I was not wrong then dondelecaro should no longer have op priveledges. In either case I ask that the (apparently permanent) ban placed on my ip address be lifted so that if I have a technical problem in the future I can attempt to recieve some real-time assistance from my peers. Full transcript attached. (My user name in the transcript is "josh__"). -- "All the soarings of my mind begin in my blood." -Rainer Maria Rilke
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