[NTLUG:Discuss] New NTLUG Forum??

[Kenneth Loafman]

MadHat wrote:
> On Tue, 2003-02-18 at 14:24, Kenneth Loafman wrote:
> 
>>It seems a lot of topics are "off-topic" for ntlug:discuss, so how about 
>>creating an ntlug:social group that would have no moderation and would 
>>be about things such as:
>>
>>- Linux activism - how to beat the Redmond monopoly.
>>
>>- Tech activism - DMCA and other problems, how tech folks can get
>>   involved in things that affect their lives, EFF, ACLU, etc.
>>
>>- Legal hacking, like how does this work?, what's the protocol for this
>>   thing on my net?  all legal reverse-engineering problems.
>>
>>- Anti-hacking, how to keep nosy corporations and script-kiddies
>>   out of your personal property.
>>
>>All of these affect the Linux community and should be valid topics of 
>>discussion, but they keep getting shot down.  How about a group which 
>>discusses these issues, self moderated, etc.?
>>
> 
> 
> There are already hundreds of lists that cover these topics.  
> Why create another one?
> What is the goal?
> 
> Also, how does bypassing MS licensing fit into any of these?
> Which one of these has specifically been show down?
> 
> I have not asked that any topic be stopped until it has reached a point
> where it is not about Linux anymore.  Any of the things listed here that
> regard the Linux OS or a Linux distribution has not been asked to stop.

Ahh, but Linux is about more than just the OS or the distribution.  Its 
about the whole use of Linux in the workplace, alongside, in competition 
with, or replacing the product from Redmond.  Politics has entered into 
the picture with DMCA, TIA, and other problem laws.  All of this affects 
our use of Linux, and should possibly be off topic for discuss, but are 
on topic for those that look at the social implications of Linux.

The reason for another forum is simple, to keep it local to the North 
Texas area, perhaps to help each other out, perhaps to keep the noise 
down to a dull roar.  USENET groups get too much noise.  By keeping it 
local, perhaps that noise will be reduced.

As to bypassing MS licensing, we never said we wanted to bypass it, but 
data is leaving that system, and we have an absolute right to know and 
control what it is and where it goes.  If you trust Gates, then that's 
your problem.  I don't.  I've had business dealings with him and he's 
quite willing to reverse engineer and steal intellectual property. 
Finding out what info he's gleaning from our systems is important to the 
  safety and privacy of our networks.  If all it is is licensing for the 
MS components, then let it go, no harm.  If its anything else, then we 
need to know about it and find out how to keep it from going out.

BTW, reverse engineering is legal.  I do it every day and I don't see 
bars anywhere near me.

...Ken