Jeff - I certainly hope that you don't leave! I was seeking the consensus of
the list because while I would never respond to a rude, unsigned (with
misspelling) post, I wanted to get a consensus. A good rule someone on the
Mercedes list gave is that if you "start to talk with 1-2 people only - then
offer to tale if off list". That's probably a good rule of thumb.

Gosh, can you imagine a list that would be only "100% on topic" 24/7? To me
that would be a bit of purgatory. If you know someone for a time on the
Net - there comes a time when you want to talk about other things...

Of course a good list should veer back to the topics or it loses the
original meaning people signed up - since I am choosing to "homestead" I
will certainly need a resource for HP3000 and hopefully will be able to
contribute to the questions of others...

Bill


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Jeff wrote - in response to my query:

It is "OT:".  See my prior rant at:
http://raven.utc.edu/cgi-bin/WA.EXE?A2=ind0212a&L=hp3000-l&F=&S=&P=1214

At this point, I'm almost willing to accept almost anything concerning
computers as "on-topic".

At the risk of committing a major breech of netiquette I'll quote a message
I received off-list from a frequent "wildly off topic" contributor to
HP3000-L:
>However, if the group is to change and merely become a social club,
>discussing the latest trends in computing and digital cameras, then I
>would undoubtedly go. I too am an adult. I have no interest in long-winded
>off-topic subjects (unless they're really long-winded and truly off-topic).

Personally, I happen to find commentary on digital cameras of great
interest.  However, mailing lists and newsgroups are topical and I think
for good reason.  And the one thing that really annoys me are non-technical
"religious arguments" on a technical forum.  I consider anything
controversial where speculation and/or subjective assessment determines the
"winner" a "religious argument"; e.g. vi-emacs, bash-ksh-csh-sh,
Qedit-ProgrammerStudio, Charmin-Scott, Kenmore-GE, Bush-Gore,
Nixon-Kennedy, et cetera ad nauseum.

And remember, people, this is an international list.  There are a lot of
folks reading this that are *not* United States citizens.  Let's not act
like North America is the only possible center of the universe.

FWIW, after at least 9 years of almost continuous HP3000-L and
comp.sys.hp.mpe participation I'm about ready to throw in the towel on this
forum.

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