Re: abandoning the rules of discourse
I think you are right there is not much left to be said. However, it is
comforting to note that this one ugly thread is the only I have seen in
all my time on the Debian lists. Looked at in that light it's sort of
reassuring. If bad threads are so incidental, I can comfortably ignore
them. And while the lists are certainly not under the same protection as
the press, I think censoring or limiting the availability of them is still
not a good idea. If communication lines are open, you will get some odd
balls, it's to be expected. Knowing that, you can account for them.
On 26 Oct 1997, Manoj Srivastava wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I think that this topic has reached the end of it's utility
> (much as I like the discourse). I think we are beginning to repeat
> ourselves. In concluding my participation on this thread, I have this
> to add:
> a) The list is not a place where the first amendment to the US
> constitution holds sway; as there are other means of offering one
> opinion (the dissent list?). You do not, for example, have a right
> to be rointed on the front page of the New York times (or of any
> other newspaper), this is not seen as violating your first
> amendment rights.
>
> b) This is a group of people who have gotten together to put up the
> best free Linux distribution. This is a co-operative
> effort. Disruptive behavior prevents (or at least militates
> against) the primary purpose of this activity. The group has a
> right to insist on a modicum of civility.
>
> c) I refuse to admit that intelligent discourse is impossible without
> resorting to ad hominem attacks or crude language. The ill will it
> causes is also (in my opinion) detrimental to the espirit de corps
> of the project in general.
>
> d) I also think that people *are* hurt by rudeness, and worse, the
> whle project suffers even more from the resultant ill will. We are
> heer not because this is our job, we are here because we like
> doing so. Abuse generally is not considered to be fun. There is a
> threshold, and abuse me more than that, and participation shall no
> longer be fun. Some one remarked that Debian lost when Lars left,
> and yet are unwilling to do anything to prevent others from
> leaving because they have been insulted in this forum. How many
> have we lost, turned off by all the rottenness that seems to
> permeate the lists of late?
>
> d) If the rules of discourse mean that some freedom is lost, then
> chalk that up to requisite discipline. No work of any worth can be
> accomplished without discipline, *any* discipline is a loss of
> freedom; albeit 'tis often voluntary.
>
> Such limitations on the debian are not likely to destroy the
> freedom of speech of the free world. I would accept any loss of
> freedom I felt to be amply rewarded by the resulting peace and
> amicability ;-). If people want to practice free speech, they can
> write to the washington post ;-).
>
>
> manoj
> --
> Wild swans take the path of the sun. Men with powers travel through
> space, but the wise step right out of the world, by conquering Mara
> and his host. 175
> Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@acm.org> <http://www.datasync.com/%7Esrivasta/>
> Key C7261095 fingerprint = CB D9 F4 12 68 07 E4 05 CC 2D 27 12 1D F5 E8 6E
>
>
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