[CoLoCo] Serious Issues in the Sounder and Ubuntu-Users lists

[Michael Haney]

Sounder sounder at lists.ubuntu.com might be shut down or changed into
something else with moderators.  That's the message we got today.
This stems from a problem that's permeated a lot of the groups on
@lists.ubuntu.com (except for thsi one thankfully) for a while now.
The quality of the Ubuntu Community has dropped significantly in the
past two years.  Sounder and Ubuntu-Users has become overrun by whiny,
self-centered, mean tempered elitists.

Sounder is a list founded for the free discussion of ideas.  The group
has devolved into petty bickering and flame wars.  Much of it stems
from the fact that the list doesn't use "reply-to" in its mail headers
so frequently people receive messages meant for the list send directly
to their private address.  This has sparked several multi-threaded
arguments.  The elitists want everyone to switch to the email client
they're using and not add "reply-to" to the headers sent out by the
list server for that group.  They want "reply-to-list" which is not
recognized by many mail clients including Gmail.  They're vehemently
against adding "reply-to", coming up with every possible (often very
weak) reasons why the list shouldn't use it.  Demanding people change
their email clients to satisfy a minority group of elitists is wrong.
I've raised concerns about their behavior on that group many times and
how it makes the Ubuntu Community look bad to those new to Linux who
have the ill conceived notion that all Linux Users are stuffy,
uptight, super-geeks who get mad at the drop of a hat.  Perhaps this
is why the board that oversees the group is considering Sounders
future.  My call for a vote on the issue of "reply-to" on Sounder may
have trigger this.

On Ubuntu-Users ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com the problem is a bit
worse.  There are elitists there who have and still do show open
animosity towards "newbies".  People new to Linux and now to the list
come there looking for help.  Too often, instead of getting help they
get ridicule and/or outright hostility.  I've seen many new foreign
users who don't have a strong grasp on English language get verbally
torn apart for not for not being able to get their point across more
clearly.  instead of trying to help them they get bullied, insulted
and flamed.  Top Posting results in angry outbursts that often goes on
for several threads.  I've been on this list for 2 years and I've seen
a lot and I'm telling you conditions are worsening.  The caring and
helpful Ubuntu Community has overrun by "assholes".

I'm so glad this group hasn't suffered the same fate.

Its a real shame about the others, though.  Their behavior is making
it hard for those of us who are trying to promote Ubuntu to new
people.  They're hurting the Ubuntu Community, Canonical, and Ubuntu
itself through their anti-social behavior.  Ubuntu was founded on the
principle of "humanity towards humans", which is the original
definition of the word.  The groups which should be reflecting this
philosophy are instead perpetuating the myth that all Linux Users
jerks.  This simply isn't true, and having people in our community who
act that way isn't help things any.

I thought you'd all like to know what is going on in the rest of the
Ubuntu Community.  It ain't pretty.  Its time I think that we cleaned
house.

-- 
Michael "TheZorch" Haney
thezorch at gmail.com
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