[aklug] Re: Enough

On Tue, Jun 08, 2010 at 09:06:27PM -0800, Royce Williams wrote:
> Bruce, I am not trying to infringe your rights. Also, please don't
> think that you are being singled out; it's just been quite a long time
> since an OT political thread escalated this quickly. I also think that
> the ASD threads probably should have been squashed earlier. And not to
> pick on Lee, but I also think that his comment tried to get in the last
> word a bit too slyly. :-) Let me explain my reasoning.
>
> AKLUG's primary topic is Linux ... on paper. In practice, and in the
> absence of another geek forum, our de facto topic is computing
> technology in general, with a strong Linux leaning. We occasionally
> have OT threads. They make the discussions more interesting. But we
> (usually) quickly return to what I believe most of us come here for: to
> geek.
>
> My objections to divisive non-technical discussions on this list are
> threefold.
>
>
> 1. Divisive OT topics degrade the usefulness of the list.
>
> I go to a national license plate convention every year. Our goal is to
> buy, sell, swap, display, and learn about plates. Many of the attendees
> are crusty old bastards from all over the political and religious
> spectrums, who are also still torqued off at some guy who swindled them
> 30 years ago ... but we all still go. This is because there is a
> "gentleman's agreement" in which we pretend that we wouldn't throttle
> each other in other forums. :-) Without that, there'd be ten smaller
> conventions. We would benefit less, have to travel more, etc.
>
> The people who get the most done -- and have the most fun -- are the
> ones who set aside their differences to just talk about their common
> passion. It's a blast -- and also very, very efficient.
>
>
> 2. Topicality is a minimum, not a luxury.
>
> In today's digital world, I believe that free speech translates into the
> right to put up a blog, web site, or join a forum that is topical for
> the items that someone wants to discuss. It does not translate into
> being able to talk about any topic in any forum. There are simply too
> many information flows to do otherwise.
>
>
> 3. Emotional topics get in the way of my geeking.
>
> Adrenaline is not conducive to precise analysis and clear-headed
> learning. FMRI scans of people having political discussions clearly
> show that reasoning shuts down and emotions rule the brain - regardless
> of your position. I can get caught up in it as much as the next guy --
> which is what worries me. :-)
>
>
> In summary: I want to talk politics on the AKLUG list just about as much
> as I want to tune a motorcycle engine at the dinner table on a first
> date. It's loud, messy, unnecessary, inefficient, and makes a bad first
> impression. :-) A place for everything, and everything in its place. I
> am all for discussing politics -- in a different forum.
>
> I'm not trying to squelch free speech; I'm trying to conserve mental
> bandwidth.
>
> My $0.02.
>
> Royce

Thanks, Royce. I agree 100% -- and for this reason AKLUG is the only LUG
to which I am still subscribed. Thanks for the geeks here. Please accept
my apologies for the emotional outburst, and taking the Google issue OT.

Bruce

-- 
May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the
lesson afterward. But properly learned, the lesson forever changes
the man."
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