Bug#680109: Advice on bug #680109 (proposal would break translations of the website footer)
Am 27.05.2015 um 11:34 schrieb Laura Arjona Reina:
> El 27/05/15 a las 10:57, Paul Wise escribió:
>>
>> I would like to replace all contacts for debian-www on the website
>> with either a link to the contact page, or forms that submit bug
>> reports to bugs.debian.org. This way we can tell people to not email
>> us for user questions and tell them that debian-www and bug reports
>> are publically archived.
>
> I like very much your idea. The current footer is:
>
> "To report a problem with the web site, e-mail
> debian-www@lists.debian.org. For other contact information, see the
> Debian contact page."
>
> I'm attaching a new patch, that would change that to:
>
> "To report a problem with the web site, and other contact information,
> see the Debian contact page."
>
> Note that this would break translations as the former one, so i18n
> advice about how to handle that is still welcome :)
>
> In contact page ( https://www.debian.org/contact ), we already have
> (among other info):
>
> * "Please note that most of the e-mail addresses below represent open
> mailing lists with public archives. Read the disclaimer before sending
> any messages."
>
> * "English language is the common language for communication with Debian
> developers. We therefore ask that initial enquiries to developers be
> made in English. If this is not possible, go through the user mailing
> list for your language."
>
> * Info about the debian-user list for user help desk.
>
> So I think the patch would cover all the needs.
>
> I would review the other appearances of links mailto:debian-www@l.d.o
> and would propose individual patches for them, if needed.
This doesn't create much enthusiasm here because it is a 1. legalistic
approach, a tendency that I think is poisonous to sanity and 2. a
bureaucratic one.
Let me explain my argument:
1. legalistic: Debian exists in a "free", "open source" context and
culture that in general works in the open. So it should be reasonably
self evident that communication is public. Do we need to add boilerplate
everywhere? It becomes tedious and boring, not much is gained and if the
intent is covering Debian's ass, then the legalize can potentially grow
limitlessly, judging from all the click-through bullshit around that has
its roots in a "we must cover our ass in all circumstances" instead of a
use "common sense" mentality.
2. bureaucratic: keep communication chains/links/channels as short and
clean as possible. People get fed up and tired if they need to jump
through hoops and parse random lists of email addresses. I'd think what
Debian wants is to engage more, not less people.
My argumentation above is a bit exacerbated to make my point clear. So
take it with a bit of salt/sugar. But I'd like to ask you to please
lose a thought to it. In the end though you'd have my support anyway
since I see you do a lot of good stuff with the web site and I think the
one who does the work should in general have the say.
Thanks for your good work!
*t
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