Re: Regarding a message from our friend in New York

["Richard F. Harrison" <rick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

All,

I've waited a while to see whether anyone, especially someone more
directly active in the KLUG than I, would respond to this silliness in a
fashion more in keeping with my curmudgeonly preferences.  Since that
has not come to pass, my rather mild flame follows.  I hope that it will
be well-understood that this is primarily for the benefit of those of
our subscribers who know the KLUG predominantly, if not indeed only,
through our mailing list...those individuals deserve a better
understanding of our "glorious leader," Bob Brown.

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Robert G. Brown wrote:
  
> Some of you may have read a message from Brian Cook...I had no desire to blow him off > or "make fun" of anyone.
I've worked with Bob for nearly four years in a professional capacity
and have had the great good fortune to establish a more personal
relationship as well.  When Bob "makes fun" of someone,...well, this
ain't it.

> ...I offered assistance to people with specific technical problems...
Not only in e-mail...I'm THE most novitiate of Linux users, although I
am a software engineer by trade.  Bob "built" my box, overcoming both
large and tedious small hurdles to coerce my IBM MCA box into accepting
Linux.  Not his love for me alone motivated this but also a desire to
provide a solution for all MCA boxes, which are many in number and which
were only slenderly supported at the time that Bob undertook the task.

> Where I come from, posting a privately sent message without seeking the authors'
> permission is pretty rude...
Any of us learns the customs of our tribe by experience...if Brian isn't
a net newbie, this was certainly ill-mannered.

> Brian's remarks about my own attitude are simply impossible assertions.
I would not say "impossible" but assuredly inappropriate in this forum
and incorrect.

> I agree with Brian that what I've done is not the point...
It is utterly to the point by way of helping him to avoid wasting his
time and by privately encouraging him to correct and to avoid
propagating an erroneous belief.  Further, your mention of your
accomplishments contributed a sense that you are well- informed in the
topic area.

> Open Source Software is an intensely political movement which introduces
> economic changes into how software is constructed.
We can't help but be political - we're human; however, the OSS issue is
a MAJORLY political one.  To attempt any appearance of disinterest in
the politics of this movement would be disingenuous at best and
dishonest, regardless.

> If the membership of KLUG doesn't want a chairman that writes from some experience and 
> political issues from time to time (or for some other reason), any member is free to 
> step forward and run in the next election.
Don't be silly - of course we want your opinions and advice.  We simply
feel as free to disagree with you as we would with any of us peons. 
You're also taking a role and the corresponding burdens and "heat" of
public figurehood that none of the rest of us (any more than you do)
really wants; it is function which needs to be performed, and you
deserve honor for your willingness to carry it out, when you have so
many other duties and activities to consume your time.

> The central purpose of this mailing list, and of this group, is improved support and
> counsel for people using this wonderful tool.
Exclamation point!  Further, as one of the geekiest (most technically
proficient) of this bunch, your counsel is regarded as sage, at least by
me.
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That Bob hasn't been making fun Brian, demonstrates Bob's very great
sense of self- restraint, since Brian richly deserves to have someone
"make fun" of his childishly ill-mannered and public tantrum.  Bob's
position as chairman reinforces his basic decency and respect for our
forum.  Without the responsibility of that burden, I feel free to agree
with Brian that this is not the group for him.

I find it a tad irksome that no one else felt moved to a mount stronger,
public defense of our Chairman.  I'll pretend that, as a N. Georgia
hillbilly, I'm just less refined about dealing with damn-foolishness
than y'all are.  I quite understand that this mailing list should not be
permitted to devolve into a personal flame exchange, however, there are
certain basic responsibilities which must be acknowledged.  There are
other folks, who know us only by subscribing to this mailing-list; such
people deserve a correct perception of Bob Brown, if they are to be
expected to have a good understanding of our group.  

I hope that any of our subscribers who are not directly, personally
acquainted with Bob Brown and who may have believed in even a small way
the aspersions cast on Bob's character will find themselves with a
different view, that is, mine.

Richard Harrison