At 10:40 AM 5/23/98 -0700, you wrote:
You make it sound as if the members of the list have regulatory power or in the very least as if this one person has been sanctioned or condoned by us and so, must punish us for his inappropriate actions.
No one is being punished...I already explained: "the application of peer pressure". That is what has consistently, and effectively, been used throughout the history of online groups, including list servers and newsgroups. I am well aware of the democratic structure of the online communities. You cannot presume innocence of this history, or of peer pressure applied to a participant who has gotten out of hand. I do not care to get embroiled in any dialog, in private e-mail. It is a waste of time...for I then find myself repeating the same thing many times over, to *others who also want private dialog. This goes for *any topic, whether considered appropriate or not.
If some person is truely the jerk you feel he is (and I pass no judgement on "satan" with this, I am attempting to be general) then his own posts will be enough to get others to complain to "abuse@suse.com" and you're complaints would be one amoung many.
Not if his posts are all private! I wouldn't have a leg to stand on, in that case.
By insisting on carrying an off-topic discussion on the list, you are as likely to be reported to "abuse@suse.com" as the person who is truely in the wrong.
It is not me who keeps the thread going...it is all the other participants, who are too small-minded to not see anything wrong in "satan's" actions...but instead, dump all responsibility on me. They cannot leave it alone, without first adding their own antagonistic messages. Now, you want to blame me not just for "satan's" behavior, but for that of others here, too. If they cease and desist their silly comments on me, I will not reply...hence, the topic will be over. As far as "satan's" presence: I believe I have successfully nipped this in the bud, even if some disagree with my approach. In short: it worked. Furthermore: from time to time, any online group may be forced to deal with outbursts such as "satan's"...and this is inevitable, and must be confronted, rather than accuse the victim of being in the wrong for pointing out an attack. Those who don't want to read what remains of this thread, can always put the subject header in their filter. If I get bumped out of the list for this...then I really don't want to be part of a group with a bully mentality. But it looks to me, like the topic is now on the wane, and shouldn't extend beyond several more messages.
The victim who stoops to the level of the perpetrater is as bad as the perp.
For one, to stoop to his level, I'd have to send nasty e-mail to him, in private. I did not. Instead, I brought attention to the group, in which he participates. For two, I'd have to likewise send nasty messages in private, to any other participant, with whom I disagree. Do not expect any more messages from me, in this thread, as long as no one continues to send me *private dialog. Any further remarks made strictly in public (on the thread), I will not respond to. This is what I have decided several days ago...but I keep getting private mail against my wishes. --- My web site kicks (but never licks) butt! <A HREF="http://ezekielk.simplenet.com/"><A HREF="http://ezekielk.simplenet.com/</A">http://ezekielk.simplenet.com/</A</A>> -- To get out of this list, please send email to majordomo@suse.com with this text in its body: unsubscribe suse-linux-e