[OS:N:] Re: Lurking v Community

["ekunin" <ekunin snet net>]

Jeremy tells me 765 people subscribe to this list. I was surprised there are
that many because when some, I have no idea how many, wanted me booted off,
only a few defended free expression. I don't understand why some people
rather than scroll past an offending post or deleting it, spend considerably
more time explaining why the author should be drawn and quartered.

The recent negative posts about Red Hat (they are only interested in money
and they don't send decals when asked) illustrate what I see as problems
with internet communication. We (1) restrict ourselves. Were I to post
something objecting to the coming war in Iraq, I would be told to go to one
of the many sites objecting to or favoring the war. Sites which can multiply
infinitely, become super specific because we haven't figured out how to make
them general without getting overwhelmed by the diversity of opinions. (2)
online we vent hostility we don't show face to face. Thus the failure to
send decals becomes cause for changing operating systems (not a good reason
if you ask me) when all sorts of non-confrontational reasons are more likely
i.e. inefficiency, forgetfulness, they ran out of decals and didn't say
anything etc. (3) we deal in larger numbers than we do face to face. What
are the ramifications of a list with 765 members of which about twenty (if
that) post with any regularity? One reason people lurk may be they see 765
posters as unwieldy to say the least. Can we construct a list to accomodate
more opinions without being overwhelmed? is that worth talking about? Could
we arrange it like e-mail where posts are listed individually by subject
rather than one email containing several posts as is the case today? (4)
some don't censor themselves (I could be perceived as guilty of this) for
example someone comes on with a technical question, someone responds this is
not the place for technical questions. I posted technical questions. Some
people responded off list, were helpful and I still appreciate it. Others,
on list, told me where to go. We could suggest no one lecture any poster on
list, but rather that we, individually, filter or ignore people who offend
us, individually, rather than try to persuade the list condemnation should
be general and (5) finally (my list is by no means exhaustive) do we want to
grapple with larger issues like does Linux have to succeed to a serious
extent in the mainstream before it is taken
seriously by schools? If so, what stands between Linux and the mainstream?

We can also consider (as friends of Red Hat) should Red Hat change its
purchase order limits? If we really want to fly we might give some attention
to what it means to be human and why we stand paralized like deers caught in
headlights on the brink of war with Iraq. How do we, the 765 of us reach a
consensus? Do we want to reach a consensus? If not, why not?

To be or not to be is still the question.

Ed Kunin
http://www.egalite.com