[TriLUG] OT: Contemplations on tolerance...

[Michael Thompson]

William Sutton wrote:
> OK, I succumbed in a moment (or two or three) of weakness and joined the 
> crowd during the flamefest.  I'll work on being more genteel :)

I'm not really sure thats necessary, I've never seen a flame fest start 
over a simple question, many (including me) were offended by the users 
obvious troll.  (Ok, maybe a few flame fests *have* started, but in 
response to a valid question.  That jerks message was not a question, 
but an attack.)

> Now then, I believe the gentleman from Calgary wasn't trolling to start 
> trouble.  I believe he got his monthly reminder, probably for the first 
> time, and panicked.  It probably wasn't the best or brightest reaction 
> he's had in a while, but I'd bet my slices of pizza at the next meeting 
> that we've all had a similar reaction at one time or other.

I have to disagree, he went out of his way to insult the list 
maintainers, in all caps, and then continued his troll with a few extra 
messages just for good measure.

> Now, back to the poking.  We didn't give our acquaintance from Calgary a 
> poke.  We singed his back side and slammed the door on it for good 
> measure.  Argue it how you like, the evidence is on the list archives, and 
> we flamed him.  Admittedly, from a RTFM POV, his question looked 
> ridiculously stupid, and we ridiculed him.

Lets see, here are some of the questions from his message, lets try to 
find something that is NOT a troll:

WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING?  --  Nope, thats not it...

WHERE DO YOU KEEP YOUR BRAINS ANYWAY?  --  Definitely not it...

Who in Hell needs Microsoft's security holes when we have lists that do
this?  --  I could be mistaken, but this is also a *statement* intended 
to be insulting.

> Jon is right.  Those of us who flamed should be ashamed...and should do 
> better.

I dont recall anyone who joined in on the "Canadian Beating" flaming 
people in the past for actual questions.  Maybe a little poke to get the 
user thinking, but never with a particularly sharp object.  The only 
thing I'm ashamed of is that I let that moron get to me.

I dont think you or anyone else should be ashamed, but feel free to 
flame me if you dont.  ;)

$.02

--mike