[LinuxUsers] Creating a structure for SocalLinux.org - asking all members to read

[Roger E. Rustad, Jr.]

On Sun, Jan 3, 2010 at 9:18 PM, David Kaiser <dkaiser at cdk.com> wrote:

> 3) yes - we are trying to improve our public image.  we used to work hard
> to have meetings, offer educational value, insightful presentations on a
> variety of subjects and from a number of guest speakers.  now we have
> food fights that are really private messages between a very select few.
> this will change.  we'll get back to good meetings and topics this year.
>

Two ways this can change -- top down ("iron fist") and/or bottom up ("grass
roots").  (Or, perhaps some blended approach where you get consensus ahead
of time and then just single handedly enact the changes).

As for the "food fights", that is IMO a sort of "cost of doing business" in
a community like this. Here people present ideas (some of course better than
others), jab each other (gentle and not-so-gentle), and at times make inside
jokes that can alienate outsiders and newcomers.

It has been my experience that shrugging off "asinine comments" and gently
switching to a topic that everyone can agree on (as Ragi did in his new
thread about SCALE presentation) can be very effective.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://socallinux.org/pipermail/linuxusers/attachments/20100103/e26f3333/attachment.htm>