Thanks for this Graeme,
I think we should also recognise that there are at least two types of
people on this list:
1. Those committed to Exim, who are here to help others as well as be
helped.
2. Those who are new to Exim, looking for help.
I count myself among the former, and I'd like to see Exim get a wider
user-base because ultimately that's where future Exim developers, and
future contributors to this list will come from. Widening the user-base
means getting more people in the latter category.
Those in the latter category should, I feel, be treated as if they are
"customers" of the project. They'll not be familiar with our practices, and
may know nothing of Open Source conventions. Therefore, we should be
particularly careful to not take offence if their suggestions don't fit
well with our culture. Assume good intent, and interpret what is said
accordingly.
It's reasonable to ask all contributors to follow rule 1 below, since
that's a rule of life. Rules 2 and 3 may need to be explained time and
again to newcomers, but hopefully not more than once to any given one.
--On 26 January 2010 09:32:48 +0000 Graeme Fowler <graeme@???>
wrote:
> Folks
>
> Thankyou for understanding the reasons for putting the list onto
> moderation yesterday. The events of the morning were unfortunate and I
> dearly hope we never have to do that again.
>
> In order to make that crystal clear, I intend to put together a more
> formal list policy along with a small group of the more regular posters.
> It will, in a nutshell, be an expansion of:
>
> 1. Be nice to people.
> 2. If you must criticise, please ensure you put forward an alternative.
> 3. Do not demand. Request, even offer, but do not demand.
>
> That last point is probably, in view of the events leading to
> yesterday's moderation, the most important.
>
> We're all here for the same reasons, which ultimately are to help each
> other. Running round like a bull in a china shop screaming "THIS MUST BE
> DONE BECAUSE I DO NOT LIKE THE WAY IT IS" only ever achieves one thing -
> and it's very, very rare that the one thing is that which is demanded.
>
> The list is no longer in a moderated state.
>
> Remember - please be nice to people.
>
> Regards
>
> Graeme
--
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IT Services, University of Sussex
01273-873148 x3148
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