[cobalt-users] Advertising - final thoughts

[Bruce Timberlake <Bruce.Timberlake@xxxxxxx>]

Last week I spent a little too much time on managing/administering the
list, and started to get carried away.  A weekend away from it all in the
desert has reset my thinking... :)

I don't have the time or inclination to spend my days counting lines in
people's sigs, etc.  The policy of "no advertising," sig files, etc. will
remain as-is (no changes to the meta-faq), and interpreted according to
general "online etiquette rules" and "common sense" (which may be asking a
lot, but...)  :)

If I see posts that are blatant advertising (price lists, etc), or if I
receive complaints from other list members, I will contact the poster
and/or take other action(s) I feel necessary.

Regarding posts asking for advice, help, employment, etc. - Blatant job
offerings or solicitations (like from placement agencies, headhunters,
businesses, etc.) will continue to be discouraged/forbidden/etc.

Single posts from individuals (especially "newbies"), asking for, or
offering, off-list contact or information about admin help, etc, I think
should be tolerated and not spawn a 40-reply thread about whether it's
advertising or not.  In these economic times, we can all be a little more
friendly and supportive towards our fellow
sysadmins/programmers/webmasters/etc.  Again, if the posts pass through as
sent, and don't generate a debate each time about whether they are
advertising or not -- and I'm saying right now that they shouldn't :) -- ,
those that feel they _are_ advertising are invited to just delete the
message and say nasty things about me to themselves.

To reiterate, and to use an example I think will be tolerated by the
subject, it would be inappropriate for Jeff Lasman to write a message to
the list titled "Cobalt Consulting" and solely stating that he is a
commercial source of Cobalt consulting help.  But, if he is answering a
query about DNS that has been raised on the list, and mentions AFTER his
"free help" that more detailed help could be had for a fee, and to arrange
all that off-list, I think is fair.  Free help has been given, and is thus
available in the archives for all.  But if the original poster wants more
detailed help than Jeff is willing to give for free, he can contact Jeff
offlist and work out an arrangement.

Or, if Jeff wishes to not be even _that_ blatant, and keeps his sig which
says Cobalt/DNS Consulting or something, that too would be acceptable.

I think this is kinda like the courts' pornography argument: you can't
really define advertising, but you know it when you see it.  It's hard to
put down something as a rule that makes everyone happy, and also which
adheres to a good feeling of community, etc., which is what this list
really is.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  I will continue to receive
off-list replies/comments/etc about list policies if you have something to
say after reading this.  But I don't plan to change my mind easily or
often. :)

--
Bruce Timberlake
Sun Cobalt Technology Engineer
Sun Microsystems, Inc.

E: bruce.timberlake@xxxxxxx
T: 877-718-3569 / x69369