Re: Proposed GR: Acknowledge that the debian-private list will remain private

[Kurt Roeckx <kurt@roeckx.be>]

On Fri, Jul 08, 2016 at 04:46:04PM +0200, Nicolas Dandrimont wrote:
> * Kurt Roeckx <kurt@roeckx.be> [2016-07-08 16:21:32 +0200]:
> 
> > On Thu, Jul 07, 2016 at 03:37:08PM +0200, Nicolas Dandrimont wrote:
> > > === BEGIN GR TEXT ===
> > > 
> > > Title: Acknowledge that the debian-private list will remain private.
> > > 
> > > 1. The 2005 General Resolution titled "Declassification of debian-private
> > >    list archives" is repealed.
> > > 2. In keeping with paragraph 3 of the Debian Social Contract, Debian
> > >    Developers are strongly encouraged to use the debian-private mailing
> > >    list only for discussions that should not be disclosed.
> > > 
> > > === END GR TEXT ===
> > 
> > What does this mean for messages to private between the 2005 GR
> > and this GR passing?  Could you be more explicit about it?
> 
> The GR doesn't mean anything for messages that have been sent to -private,
> actually. It just removes a process that has not been enacted for 10 years, and
> won't be in the future.
> 
> I would probably accept an amendment making the title of this GR "Acknowledge
> that the current process for debian-private declassification won't be enacted,
> and repeal it." or something more English.
> 
> > (I'm also not sure what the situation before 2005 really was.)
> 
> Me neither. In my interpretation of our current foundation documents and
> regulations, repealing the 2005 GR means that the listmasters are now empowered
> to do whatever they wish with the debian-private list archive

This is at least very confusing.  The title says "will remain
private", but none of the text says anything about it being
private and you now seem to suggest that listmaster can just
decide that it's not private.

We do have this text in the developer's reference:
4.1.3.A Special lists

    <debian-private@lists.debian.org> is a special mailing list for
    private discussions amongst Debian developers. It is meant to be
    used for posts which for whatever reason should not be published
    publicly. As such, it is a low volume list, and users are urged
    not to use <debian-private@lists.debian.org> unless it is really
    necessary. Moreover, do not forward email from that list to
    anyone. Archives of this list are not available on the web for
    obvious reasons, but you can see them using your shell account on
    master.debian.org and looking in the ~debian/archive/
    debian-private/ directory.


Kurt