Re: Quality of email postings

Guys,

For the sake of argument please consider the idea that the advocacy mail list is one of the most important mail lists that we've got. It's the only one that is dedicated to advocacy. Hence politics and difference of opinion is an expected, and even encouraged, outcome.

I don't talk about it much on the mail list but those of you who've I've met face to face know that I live and work in an environment of 'real' politics i.e. I work with politicians and mid to senior level civil servants here in Ottawa.

I've been impatiently waiting for this kind of explosion of opinion to happen for the past few years and now its finally happening. It's a good sign, there's change in the wind. And yes, we need change. Real change.

I suggest you leave things as they are. Get used to it. As for the new people, such as the sales and marketing people, please don't worry about them as they deal with people not code. They're adept in this kind of environment and all would do well to watch them in action.

One last comment, kind of obvious but it doesn't hurt to repeat it, be as vociferous as you like but attack the ideas and not the person.

Robert Bernier

On Friday 10 August 2007 01:50, Joshua D. Drake wrote:
> Bruce Momjian wrote:
> > Joshua D. Drake wrote:
> >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> >> Hash: SHA1
> >>
> >>> Why does this matter? I have been approached by two sales people in the
> >>> past few days who are subscribed to advocacy and want to help
> >>> PostgreSQL, but they are wondering if the advocacy list is a useful
> >>> place for them to help. If we don't add focus to the discussions, we
> >>> risk losing their involvement in advocating PostgreSQL.
> >>>
> >>> FYI, I don't see anywhere near the same kind of unfocused discussion on
> >>> the other PostgreSQL email lists.
> >> What are you actually proposing?
> >
> > I am suggesting that more people need to get involved directing the
> > discussion, summarizing previous postings, keeping the discussion on
> > topic, and moving it toward a conclusion.
>
> When this is attempted it is ignored. Even by core members such as
> yourself, Berkus and Page. The last two *ahem* active threads I was
> involved in, I on multiple occasions tried to move threads to more
> proper forums only to be ignored.
>
> Hijacking threads is common nature, especially when dealing with
> something that is ethereal. It doesn't happen on other lists because
> other lists are about very specific problems or patches. Advocacy is not
> such a list.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Joshua D. Drake
>
> >
> > This happens pretty effectively on the other PostgreSQL lists.
> >
>
>