Re: Discouraging Trolls

In article <timstreater-D93DCE.13070919042009@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Tim Streater <timstreater@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Trollio seems to think we should be running Linux, for some reason. Mr
Conrad, in supporting him, talks about buying Linux books.

If you're writing apps you're gonna need to know about how things work.
If you're just using the machine, there should be no need. Unless it's
Linux, apparently.

Which begs the question why either might think Linux is better than Mac
OS? But the bigger question which Conrad tries to support by referring
to us the source of the problem is in the fact that the forum name and
its charter indicate that this is a Macintosh forum, so how is this
discussion about linux and its benefits considered valid?

I read a post from him considering those of us who object to such posts
as being intolerant. I have contended multiple times that there are
considered protocols to usenet and the newsgroups, and willful and
repeated posts of such off-topic nature are in violation of such
protocols. If such posts were put into a Linux forum (such as
comp.os.linux.answers or comp.os.linux.misc), I would not have any
problem with them. I am sure there are plenty of people here who would
not have any intolerance for a linux discussion in either of those
newsgroups.

But Conrad needs to look at this forum's name, chich is
comp.sys.mac.system. The subname ".mac." implies that this forum is
slated for Macintosh discussion, as as such, protocol dictates that
those who choose to willfully post off-topic need to be chastised and/or
ignored. Since this and most newsgroups are not moderated, open
ridicule and displays of public intolerance are the only tools regulars
have to combat those who post in such manner.

And if we tolerate - or worse, even welcome - such practices, then we
might as well hand the whole forum over to such people, as has happened
in such lifeless forums as rec.games.video.misc or alt.cyberspace. It
is a recognized fact that these newsgroups are unmoderated, but there
have been social practices laid out so that we don't have the internet
form of anarchy that has allowed Somalia to play host to the pirates
unabated. Perhaps, if Mark Conrad wished to welcome such behavior, then
we - the collective body which inhabits this newsgroup actively - need
to treat him with the same form of intolerance which is the only tool a
practical enforcement available to us.

jt
.

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