Hi, I think we are getting nowhere fast. >>"Dale" == Dale Scheetz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Dale> On 1 May 1998, Manoj Srivastava wrote: >> Dale, I think no one is trying to be dictatorial about policy. Dale> When you say the policy MUST be followed to the letter, I can Dale> view that as nothing less than a dictatorial attitude. Both Phillip and Budha have proposed riders to that bare statement. I think you are just trying to be confrontational here. Dale> I am a maintainer who chooses not to spend my time in the policy Dale> group, but prefers to spend what little time I have working on Dale> my package responsibilities. One of the things that has bothered Dale> me about your position on this matter, is that you seem to think Dale> that maintainers who don't get involved in the policy discussion Dale> are shurking their duties, while I don't. You do not have to be subscribed t policy to amend it. Just send mail to the policy group, and ask you be CC'ed to replies. We are genrally nce people who CC with a passion. BTW, I do think maintainers who ignore policy for their own packages but can't send a email message explaining the reason to the policy list *are* shurking their duties. There are times when real world matters intrude, and people have to temporarily withdraw from the project (I left for a few months in the fall of '96, and took back kernek-package when I felt I had time to fulfull my duties as a maintainer). >> Not everyone has the grasp of the subject as the person pointing >> out the error of policy, so amending policy is really just being >> co-operative. >> Dale> I thought that was what the policy group was there for. I have Dale> alwasy assumed that this kind of work was their responsibility. The policy list is mere mortals too. If you find a flaw in the policy (a flaw is having to ignore policy for your package since ``obviously'' your package is an exception, or a flaw in policy is when following policy shall break packages) you send a email to the policy list. If you are too busy to send email, I submit you are too busy to be a maintainer at the moment, and you should seek co-maintainers to lighten your load. Dale> As a developer, I use the policy statements to help me decide on Dale> particular issues of packaging. How is it that I am now the Dale> responsible party for fixing a policy that I don't see as Dale> broken? If you find that following policy shall break packages, I think you are indeed responsible for pointing this out. (See? I thought such co-operation was obvious, too). Dale> So, why am I responsible for your ignorance? Cause, O fount of wisdom, us unworthy developers beseech thee. If you find something that others are ognorant of, especially if you have to flout policy in your packages in order not to break your package, please, please, let the rest of us know. Not all of us are as able as you are. Dale> My only problem is when you make it my responsibility to Dale> "correct" the policy statement. You found the flaw. No one else seems to have. If you do not correct it, who will? (Frankly, I am dissapointed by this argument). >> I think then it is definitely unclear, and an ambiguous policy >> statement is a broken policy statement. >> Dale> Then fix it, if you think it is broken, and stop chastizing me But you are the one who knows what is broken and what is the right thing to do, since you have done The Right Thing for your packages. Dale> because we currently live with a less than perfect Policy Dale> Statement. From my point of view, I follow policy when I deliver Dale> a working unstripped binary instead of a broken stripped one. No, you ignore a broekn policy directive to strip a binary. And despite knowing policy is flawed, you do not wish to share your expertise and allow others to benefit from your wisdom. What are you gunning for, a promotion? manoj -- The lion and the calf shall lie down together, but the calf won't get much sleep. -- Woody Allen Manoj Srivastava <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <http://www.datasync.com/%7Esrivasta/> Key C7261095 fingerprint = CB D9 F4 12 68 07 E4 05 CC 2D 27 12 1D F5 E8 6E -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]