I feel my position has been clear for years now.

Having been on the receiving end of Olin's brusqueness I can only say that
Olin makes this 'community' unwelcoming.

Further, I have stated in the past, and I still feel that the community's
previous 'vote for Olin' Success reflects poorly on the 'community' too.

For the past couple of years (Since Olin has been 'un-moderated') the
acceptance, and promotion of Olin's 'pillage and burn newbies' policy has
indicated that this is an 'elite' forum of 'experts'. As a 'newbie' I have
felt unwelcome, and that it is 'impossible' to ask newbie questions without
being shot down. As a technical resource, PICList is valuable, but
inaccessible.

As an individual I believe Olin has set the tone of piclist, and enforced
this 'strategy' of belittlement. As a community I think it is embarrassing
and shameful that it has gone on for so long. Shame on *us* for
supporting/accepting the bullying of unsuspecting 'visitors'.

The direct effect of Olin's strategies has been to deplete this community
of fresh blood, and to distance those people who have the staunchest
principles and ethics... in effect, Olin has somehow managed to subvert the
character of the list, and we've let him do it.

Rolf

On Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:20:38 +1200, RussellMc <apptechnz@gmail.com> wrote:

>              **** HAVE YOUR SAY ****
>=20
> If people really think that
>=20
> 1. > The belittlement of the questioner is of no concern.
>=20
> 2.  > If he feels properly humiliated, he probably won't do it again
> and problem solved.
>=20
> 3.  > If he runs  away crying to mommy and never comes back, problem
> still solved.
>=20
> are acceptable statements of how things should be done here, are
> approaches that we can be proud of, and that would pass muster with
> MIT if anyone complained about them, then do please speak up now. Or
> disagree with their acceptability.
>=20
> DO NOT WATER THEM DOWN - they are clear statements - address them.
>=20
> THIS following point is liable to be acceptable enough to most
>=20
> 4.  > If you give him what he wants, he'll be back doing the same
> thing again since it
>      > was successful.
>=20
> Fortunately, "giving him what he wants"  in an unqualified manner is
> NOT how most people here behave towards beginners - or to people whose
> mother tongue is not English.
>=20

>=20
> Violence is not our aim here.
> Belittling questioners IS of concern and is unacceptable.
> Purposeful humiliation as a means of education is unacceptable here.
> Seeking to drive people away from the list, or being satisfied that it
> is a good outcome if it occurs is not how we seek to do things here.
>=20
> How say you, gentlemen?
>=20

--=20
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