[OT rude or not, a different opinion] -Re: Beta 8.10 released

[Ignazio Palmisano]

Thorny wrote:
> On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:23:57 +0100, Ignazio Palmisano wrote:
> 
>> I have to disagree with this argument: no one knows in detail what's in
>> somebody's else head, and it's not up to the listener to ask for
>> clarifications for every communication, it's up to the speaker to try to
>> convey as much information as possible, so that the meaning of what's
>> said is as unambiguous as possible. Wherever there is a hole in the
>> communication, there is the possibility of misunderstanding, and what
>> people do is fill up the holes with what *seems* most appropriate. As
>> many have already said, email is a poor way to express feelings
>> accompanying words, unless one tries really hard, which usually means
>> very long emails.
>>
>>
> I generally agree with what you said for normal communication. However, in
> a place where people come to help and be helped, I think it is incumbent
> on the helper (who has chosen that role, no one is forced to respond) to
> make a considerable effort to understand and support a poster who might
> have trouble expressing any part of the communication. In theory, those
> with the best command of the language could be in a position to better
> comprehend the nuances of that language and be aware of what might be
> attributable to their own emotions . Specifically, this list is about an
> operating system that is part of a group that desires to be welcoming and
> supportive. I think I even read that somewhere in a mission statement
> about Ubuntu but I don't have any link to cite. I interpret that as 'bend
> over backward'(make the effort) to try and help, spend the time writing
> those long emails and endeavor to make people feel welcome. YMMV. I can
> do it for a while, but I too will quit replying to someone who, over time,
> continues to be rude or trolls. 
> 
> I know your email wasn't threaded to my reply but you and I probably
> approach things differently, even in person (meatspace) I would tend to
> ask if someone is meaning to be rude or if I misunderstood what they said.
> Of course, in meatspace, things do tend to play out a bit differently than
> cyberspace. Posters who think they haven't been treated fairly tend to
> just disappear and we may not get another chance to help them with Kubuntu.
> 

I agree with you, it might not show in my recent emails but that's what 
I usually do (on other mailing lists, I'm nowhere knowledgeable enough 
to help much on this list). What ticked me off was the *perception* that 
the discussion was going from technical and/or a matter of taste to more 
  personal statements (not directed at me, but then, what can I say... 
sorry for the noise :)).
I.