Getting this NG back on-topic

I nearly forgot:

Phil Alison's abuse shall be deemed "on-topic" because of its usually high overall SNR.

-- Joe

I disagree. You can insult people without abusive language. It is more difficult to do, but that's not going to stop an educated electronic designer.

Isn't this discussion off-topic?

Me, too.

But ... One does note that the usual trio of off-limits topics in polite conversation includes politics, religion, and sex. I guess we haven't been sufficiently salacious for the third exclusion. Perhaps another indicator of the group's graying demographic. ;-)

Ohhhh snap!

Tim

-- Deep Friar: a very philosophical monk. Website:

I never post BS, so this is trivial for me, but I do have some comments.

First of all, it won't work. Jim knows everyone is either too lazy to agree, or is exactly as bigoted as himself and therefore will continue to post BS anyway. The line was an empty, childish threat, equivalent to "I'll stop punching you if you do", or more simply, "eye for an eye". While it sounds fair on paper, it doesn't work in practice.

Indeed, there's no way to stop it. He isn't emotionally weak enough to scare away, even if the entire population turned on him (which again isn't going to happen, because people are lazy), nor is there any way of arguing against his statements in a logical manner -- like the transient response from a brick wall filter, Jim's brick wall head will never stop its culturally engrained political duty.

There is one thing we can try. Jim's threads are some of the most populous. Evidently, getting a Jim reply is some sort of social postrank which induces others to reply. Obviously, a thread started by Jim also carries this postrank, simultaneously drawing in all resident contributors, trolls and trollfeeders.

The obvious solution is to killfile Jim, but as he sometimes posts on topic material, that's not an ideal solution. However, since, like Phil, he cannot be trained, it still has some merit.

If all the regulars here would simply agree to reconsider before hitting the send button, we could see a dramatic drop in the political content. Imagine. Instead of complaining... just... let it be.

Tim

Avoiding OT stuff will just make the ng smaller. That's not the answer. If you want more electronics on s.e.d., post more stuff about electronics. This group is hardly overloaded with electronics.

Most engineers are reluctant to talk about what they are actually doing.

John

Can't we all just get along? :-) Mike Did ya hear the one about the French elephant? Oh, sorry that's off topic.

Nicked from sci.electronics.basics

nd

Absolutely. And you just insulted my posting without abusive language, as I tried to do unto others. So, people can learn to do the same.

Even if they aren't working under a NDA.

"J.A. Legris"

I nearly forgot:

Phil Alison's abuse shall be deemed "on-topic" because of its usually high overall SNR.

Why am I being so honoured ?

.... Phil

You like everyone in this group?

Bob

You know quite a lot about electronics, but you are even less diplomatic than I am.

-- Bill Sloman, Nijmegen

OK. I won't respond to BS the BS unless on electronics for at least 3 months.

I say a 10:1 ratio of electronics to off topic is ok..

Oh that should give you warm fuzzy feelings!

No meds required today! :)

Exactly. I'm not just reluctant, I'm forbidden by NDA for typically five years after the fact.

Also, I rarely initiate an electronics post (other than a "contest" question) because I'm so old I've "already done that" ;-)

But it would be amusing if we could see more electronic questions from people who need some pointing in the right direction.

However, if you feel it's juvenile, it probably is, so take it to sci.electronics.basics first. ...Jim Thompson