Re: Advice for sci.electronics.design




Mac wrote:
>
> Guy Macon wrote:
>
>> "THE STANDARD ADVICE:
>>
>> There is a way to influence what gets discussed in a newsgroup that
>> works well, and another way that has never worked no matter how many
>> people have tried it.
>>
>> What works: Post articles on the topic you wish to see discussed,
>> and participate in the resulting discussion. Use killfiles and
>> filters so that you don't see the articles that you dislike.
>> If you don't know how to use a killfile, use good old fashioned
>> discipline and don't read the articles that you dislike. Never,
>> ever respond to articles that you dislike.
>>
>> What doesn't work: Respond to articles that you dislike, complain
>> about articles that you dislike, complain about posters that you
>> dislike, complain about how terrible everyone else is for not posting
>> what you want them to post. Talk about how to respond to articles
>> that you dislike. Make the articles that you dislike the center of
>> attention, the main topic of discussion, and a personal crusade."
>>
>> -Guy Macon
>>
>> The above, of course, fully applies to my own posts - including this one.
>
>I think you are mostly on-track. But I disagree with a few points. First,
>it is always good to follow up to articles which give bad advice to people
>who may or may not have the judgement to recognize it. This applies
>regardless of all other considerations.

I agree 100%. I wrote the advice above for a non-technical newsgroup,
and I now see that I need to add a paragraph about responding to bad
advice. ("now children, pipe your uranium hexafluoride into the high-
speed centrifuge...") We have a responsibility to speak up about the
posting of false information. By the way, did you know that if you
plug your 120 volt PC into 240 volts it will run twice as fast?

I do think that the advice not to make such articles "the center of
attention, the main topic of discussion, and a personal crusade"
is still appropriate.

Thanks for the insightful comment. I really appreciate it.

>Also, when a new persona appears and posts off-topic stuff, it is totally
>reasonable (and probably even good netiquette) to follow-up and say
>"You're question is off-topic here. For a better idea of what is on-topic,
>please see the <charter | faq list | welcome post | whatever>. For your
>particular question, you might find better advice at alt.foo.bar."
>Often, in other news groups, such people just say "Sorry, I didn't know.
>I'll go away now." The only reason I don't do that is that I got the
>impression that SED tolerated off-topic posts in a way that other groups I
>read most definitely do not.

I have mixed feelings about the above. I too have seen people just
say "Sorry, I didn't know. I'll go away now." Alas, I have also seen
them launch into a flamewar that fills the newsgroup for many months.
In the old days we would have emailed them telling them that they were
off-topic, but nowdays it is common to obfuscate email addresses.
I am not saying that I disagree, merely that I have some doubts.

>Finally, I think it is reasonable to put-forth opinions on the best way to
>deal with off-topic posts if they are becoming a problem, even when such
>ideas contravene one of your guidelines. For example, if a regular
>responds to an obvious troll, it makes sense to tell the regular, "hey,
>don't feed the trolls!" And if Guy Macon believes there is a Better Way,
>it makes sense for him to post and tell everyone about it. Once. ;-)

More excellent advice. I know that I have, at times, had someone
tell me to stop feeding a troll, and I have always appreciated the
comment. It is an easy habit to fall into. I will work on some
wording that reflects this.

>But with trolls, or people (including regulars) who are deliberately
>trying to "stir the pot," by posting about politics and so on, the best
>course of action is probably to ignore them, which is what I think you are
>saying.
>
>Just my $0.02

Excellent comments, and much appreciated. Thanks!

.

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