I'd like to make two polite requests to the rest of us:

(1) Please don't make LQ into a syndicated news feed by "merely" posting short messages that contain links to news articles or to videos. If I wanted news feeds (I don't ...), or if I wanted to watch television (I don't even own one ...), then I already have the technology to do this. This place is intended to be a water cooler: a place to hang out and discuss things.

If you want to discuss what another piece of web content means to you, then please discuss it, such that one does not necessarily need to read or watch the piece in order to understand your point-of-view. Summarize what the piece says with a short but relevant quote. And – how do I say it nicely – "don't waste our time."

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(2) Here and elsewhere, please be careful about "exhuming" very old threads. If the thread was written in 2011, it's probably not relevant today. Recently, some people resurrected old threads in what seemed to be a deliberate attempt to re-light an old controversy ... such as referring to SCO's attempt to seize the intellectual-property rights to Linux, given that the effort bankrupted and utterly dissolved SCO many years ago. (See http://www.groklaw.net.) That story is a completely dead horse now, but someone tried to re-light a fire with it. Let's not do that.

Of course, we all do run into the same problems again and again, and sometimes your Super Search does lead you back to an old thread that is still a relevant description of an issue that has just become "re-relevant" to you. As long as you (please) make it clear that this is what you're doing, "that's not grave-robbing."

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By the good graces of our site-owners and moderators, "we have a water cooler." Where we can talk about world or US politics, faith and religion, or, gosh, Linux. But, let's all work to keep it a high-quality water cooler. Are we agreed?

I'm not pointing fingers or naming names, and I well know that, if I did, "four fingers would be pointing back at me." (And anyway, "that's not the point." I'm suggesting a different approach to how we choose to use this forum, not talking about any person.)

"That's what I think about this. So ... what do you think?"

What do I think? I agree some rabid, no personal views typed out, type of threads and posts litter General.

Like Troll droppings.

Which is why I backed out of here though I do post a joke once in a while here. To lighten the mood.

If exhuming refers to this thread http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ml#post5686478

Yeah. I'm guilty. I got broad shoulders. So I'll shoulder the blame. I see no harm done though. I kept my post short and personal. Without just going "this sucks" and posting a link. Like many do here.

Edit: I am not shouldering the blame for what is posted later on by others however.
Sorry. Just being me.

Now that I am done thinking. Time to out to the shop and turn the coffee pot on and boot up my Linux media center.

Sadly I been away for a while..

Only been looking through the forum and the odd posting, for a few years, so still trying to find the delete button, found the post button the other day...

I am recognizing some of the nicknames on here tho...

So if an oldy like me is guilty, then so be it, I have trouble remembering who I am some days...

Now what was I saying? Oh yeh Sorry in advance and the past...

Hi sundialsvcs!

Wraithe

I've seen far worse than LQ's general section on the WWW. I can't see that it really needs cleaning up or that people really need to post differently to avoid upsetting some peoples' delicate sensibilities.

Political/religious views are always divisive. While some may shake their head in dismay or laugh in derision at mine, I will do the same at theirs. We're all "right" according to ourselves and our own particular worldview, social standing, occupation or lifestyle.

If I can chuckle at your silly views, you can chuckle at mine and everybody's happy. They way I see it, even if we disagree on many points, we probably still have common ground and I'd probably still buy you a beer (unless of course you really are 100% a total dick head).

I must be the later, I dont like beer... But as your from the scotch whiskey island, I'll have mine straight thanks...

Better make that a double...

cynwulf, long time since I seen your posts... Have a nice evening and have a scotch for me too...Cheers

I've heard about what passes for beer in Australia, so I'm not surprised.

Same here in the states. Beer in cans = blasphemy, and stay away from labels marked 'budweiser', 'coors', 'miller' 'michelob'. Basically the 'big' US labels.

Yeh too cold to drink in those northern countries...

I'd drink warm beer too if it was below 15 celcius every day, but luckily thats called freezing temperatures here...

40 celcius in the shade is a nice cool day so a coldy just off the ice has nothing to do with taste, its the temperature that counts... You should try scotch thats been in the freezer for 2 hours, tastes damn good then...

My feeling is certainly not "what we discuss," but simply that we should be "discussing." Not pushing out URLs as though LQ were an RSS feed.

Found an interesting link? Fine – post the URL, and start a conversation.

... a written conversation.

Heh... contrary to popular belief, beer is not drank "warm" over here. Beer or lager is drank either "chilled" or at "cellar temperature" and Ale is always served at cellar temperature (around 12C), which is the ideal temperature. Putting it in the refrigerator for too long, kills the flavour.

Guilty as charged!!

Me hitting and running.

I.e. while I'll chime in rarely (provided I don't compose and then close the tab before submitting ...) I'll unsubscribe right away.

I think I know exactly what you're talking about. I've seen those threads, and I do think "What was the point here? Doesn't the creator of this thread have any independent thoughts of their own? Or are they just acting as a news repeater?"

Well, the creator(s) of those threads either hear you, or they don't.

I was not talking – directly or indirectly – about any particular person. I just like interesting conversation.

I like to occasionally post links to news stories which I think LQ users will find particularly interesting, generally ones that have some relationship to Linux, computer security, and computing and the law. Often, I don't add much in the way of commentary because it is the story, not what I might say about it, that I think persons may find interesting.

I shall continue to do so when I stumble over items that I think LQ users may find interesting and that are related to the world of computing, but I will commit to being extra-careful to ensure that they are related to Linux or computing.

I will also emphatically commit to not start threads about political topics or news of the weird.

frankbell, I think what sundialsvcs is getting at, put a link up but add a comment of your own or point out a bit of information in regards to the link...

I agree with both of you, but sometimes no information, just a link can be annoying, especially as the title of the thread says a little but not a lot...

If the link is all thats in the post, then we have to go look at it because of our curiosity, only to find it was little or no value...

This thread is turning into a good discussion and bringing up good points...

Have a nice day everyone.