Re: [Leica] LUG web space project

["Patrick G. Sobalvarro" <pgs@sobalvarro.org>]

Mailing lists are very strange places in which to have fights.  A
mailing list is a very pure way of communicating ideas, by comparison
with, say, a group meeting.  A group holding a group meeting can shout
an individual down, or can threaten physical violence, or can forcibly
eject an offender; these options are not open to members of the
leica-users group.

Those of you who are really concerned about Francesco's web site can
hold all the votes you want, and send all of the messages you want
deploring whichever side in the debate you wish; if the party you are
deploring does not give in, you haven't done much of anything except
blow smoke.

None of you can stop Francesco from registering whatever domain name he
wants that isn't already taken, unless a court agrees that it violates
your trademark.  He can't keep you from doing the same.  (Visit
<http://www.internic.net>; registering a domain name costs US$70.)  None
of you can stop Francesco from posting images volunteered by members of
the Leica-users group on a web site.  All of you are free to establish
your own web site to do the same.  None of you (with the exception of
Brian, the list owner) can throw Francesco or Danny off this mailing
list.  You are all free to start your own mailing lists from which you
may exclude whomever you wish.

Under these circumstances, the policy that makes the best sense is a
recognition of the limits of one's own power over others, and tolerance
of mutual differences.

- -Patrick Sobalvarro