On Sat, May 19, 2007 at 08:44:09AM -0400, Douglas Allan Tutty wrote: > On Fri, May 18, 2007 at 09:11:37PM -0500, Mumia W.. wrote: > > > However, I do think it would be good to add language to the description > > of the mailing list that suggests that people take off-topic > > conversations elsewhere. > > Perhaps a clarification in the code of conduct. > > As I see it, OT is for stuff that isn't really debian-specific but that > you would like input on from debian people. For example, if I've come > to know and trust the debian-user community and I need help with fixing > a hardware problem or I need to choose a new power supply, that would be > OT but appropriate to the list, IMHO. > > OTOH, the comments that Joey referenced and the threads that spawned > them are at least one of: > - not relavent or related to the list topic I guess the question is where to draw and then who draws that line. For example, to note your example, almost everyone finds it acceptable to ask for hardware advice on this list. I've done so more than once and gotten very good replies. But what about other things? There have been messages posted regarding software patents. Software patents are quite clearly a political animal, but of concern to many (but not all) Debian users. Many people want to encode/decode the graphic, audio and video formats that are out there and patents certainly affect that. I think that would be a good example of something that is likely considered off-topic to the list, yet of interest to many on the list. Of course, any discussion will very quickly head into ares such as the actions of governments and big business, which will invariably become a very politically charged discussion. Or, what about a more innoccuous question which has the potential to head into the same territory? That is, how to rip a DVD. Such a question could very quickly lead to discussions about region coding, Hollywood involvement in the legislative process, and so on. Copyright is another such topic, as are DRM and others. > - offensive to some group I would even wager to say that talk of patents is offensive to some. So should that be allowed? What about when the discussion heads into more "questionable" territory? I constantly find offensive material on this list, both in on-topic and off-topic postings and even in signatures. However, I don't *let* it offend me. I just move on and forget it. More people should try that. It will reduce the stress in your life. > - beyond offensive and bordering on hateful. That is a question of degrees. One man's humor is another man's offense is another man's hate speech. > I haven't read most of the relavent posts since I found > them offensive. Were I to have received them via > snailmail, I would carefully read them and consider > reporting them has hate mail. Anyone receiving their > email via ham radio would be in a bit of a pickle since > it would be them that caused such messages to be > transmitted on ham frequencies. > I would think that the problem rests with the individual/provider who is actually making the bridge between email and ham radio. If the ham radio bridge is a Debian-sanctioned activity, then that needs to be noted on mailing list description so that people do not potentially run afoul or cause others to run afoul of the law. However, if it is not Debian-sanctioned, then the provider of the email->ham service needs to be aware of what is going on and take any preventive measures on his part. -- Roberto C. Sánchez http://people.connexer.com/~roberto http://www.connexer.com
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