I ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: > > With all due respect, if you think that there is no diversity of > > opinion in Debian, then you haven't been around here for very long.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Ossama Othman) responded: > I was referring to the fact that many of the developers strongly felt > that I should agree with the DFSG, i.e. not have my own opinion of it. > So, with all due respect, please don't understand me so fast. :) I was merely trying to point out that we have flame wars ... ahem ... disagreements on these lists all of the time. I just wanted you to know that you are far from the only person who has made a suggestion and received several negative responses. It happens all of the time. Please don't get the impression, however, that we always reject new ideas. Often a suggestion receives an enthusiastic response. Whether anything changes (i.e., whether someone does the work to implement a new proposal) is another matter. ... > I was not referring specifically to Craig. Rather I was referring to > some of the statements that were made by several developers about "if > you don't agree then you should consider leaving" or something along > those lines. If I gave you the impression that I was singling out or > attacking Craig then I apologize for that. I do admit that it is hard > to keep calm when everyone seems to disagree with you. So, if I came > off as attacking Craig then please excuse me. There is really no need to apologize. However, it is my experience that almost all of these type of suggestions are (at least) in the spirit of: "This is how many of us feel, and if you are uncomfortable with this, then perhaps you would feel more comfortable with some of the other groups that currently exist." I have rarely seen examples of anyone trying for force someone out of the group, and of those situations where it does come across this way, I believe that it is almost always a case of the author becoming carried away an overly heated argument rather than an actual sincere attempt to force anyone out. > I agree with you about understanding and complying with Debian's goals, > which is why I abide by them. ... and is why I said "I'm sure that you will agree" (with me not necessarily the DFSG). > But, does that mean that I have to agree with them? Of course not! We don't want robots. We want individuals who are willing to work towards a common goal. Anything constructive that you bring to the project is welcome. However, you should realize that an endevor like this, which is a labor of love, inspires strong passions and ideals, and these are some of the things that you will encounter when you deal with other members of the Debian project. > I do truly try to respond in a calm fashion, although I don't always > succeed. Don't worry. Nobody expects you to be perfect. Besides, you were polite, which is something that is always more than welcome on the Internet. Discussion, even of the same old things, is a good thing. > I didn't realize that renaming non-free was suggested before. Why didn't > anyone tell me? Think of all the headaches I could have avoided! :) I was kind of wondering the same thing myself. Brian
