> The topic of this list is qmail. There's nothing stopping anyone from
> posting a message about toenail clippers, but such a message would be
> off topic for the list, and would likely not be received well. That's
> OK, though. They don't want us talking about qmail on the
> toenail-clippers list, either.
Talking about toenail-clippers would be off-topic on my list too, but
on my list each sender is on his/her honor to remain on-topic.
The difference lies in something a topic like getting Mutt to work with
Maildirs.
Well, if the sender never even HEARD of Maildir's before installing the
qmail tarball, and read on the list the Mutt was preconfigured to use
Maildirs, but had never used Mutt before and asked how, that would be
very much ON-Topic on my list. I would contend that it is also on-topic
on the qmail crypto list, however it's relative topicality isn't the
the major issue. If the sender honestly believes that it is on-topic,
then on my list, it is permissible. However on my list, responding to
that email saying that it is off-topic would be expressly forbidden.
No enforcement of topicality would be allowed on my list. The only thing
keeping toenail discussions off the list is the senders sense of honor.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Sill [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 2:41 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: New qmail list et al
>
>
> "Alex Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >>
> >> In your opinion, perhaps. I prefer the current arrangement, where
> >> people are free to say whatever they want.
> >
> >So, if what you are saying is true, then the posters who make
> >claims that some email is "off-topic" are exercising their
> >freedom of expression to say that but simultaneously are mistaken
> >or saying falshoods, since people are "free to say whatever they
> >want".
>
> Just because one has the freedom to do X doesn't mean one *should* do
> X.
>
> The topic of this list is qmail. There's nothing stopping anyone from
> posting a message about toenail clippers, but such a message would be
> off topic for the list, and would likely not be received well. That's
> OK, though. They don't want us talking about qmail on the
> toenail-clippers list, either.
>
> >So, I guess it's like every baboon is free to do whatever it wants
> >and every baboon is free to pummel another for exercising that freedom?
>
> Except we're not baboons, we presumably joined this list to talk
> about qmail--not simply to exercise our freedoms, and "pummelling"
> consists of sending a harshly worded e-mail message.
>
> >Thanks for all the help you give on this list.
>
> Glad to help. Maybe I'll see you on the toenail-clippers list
> sometime. :-)
>
> -Dave
>
