[5070] in WWW Security List Archive
Re: son of... OFF TOPIC Flaming
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jim Harmon)
Mon Apr 14 20:56:11 1997
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 16:06:38 -0400
From: Jim Harmon <jharmon@telecnnct.com>
To: elroy <elroy@kcsun3.kcstar.com>
Cc: Yuan John Jiang <yjj@mci.net>, www-security@ns2.rutgers.edu
Errors-To: owner-www-security@ns2.rutgers.edu
folks,
I do not wish to catalytically induce a flamewar here or stoke this most
resent exchange to higher levels.
I'm posting this as a reminder that this is a professional members
distribution list, everyone likes to be treated as professionals, and
everyone on this list has an implicit obligation to treat others as
professionals.
We are all not of equal experience or training, and our "least common
denominator" is a subscription to www-security ---not grad-school, tech
school, military MOS, or engineering affiliation.
This is a plea to remain courteous TO THE DISTRIBUTION LIST. If you
have a problem with an individual's post to the group, it is not
appropriate to flame them openly for all of us to witness.
That's humiliating, frustrating, and more damaging to your own percieved
level of competence then that of whomever you're flaming.
I will readily admit that I've taken offense at comments made to me by
"experts" on this list. I would like to think that my responses being
made one-on-one helped to disarm conflicting POV's rather than inciting
riot. I would like to ask others to adopt that philosophy.
In the very relevant context of "the Golden Rule", Do unto Others as you
would have them do unto You.
Or in this case,
"Flame not unto others as you would have them Flame not unto you."
elroy wrote:
> On Sat, 12 Apr 1997, Yuan John Jiang wrote:
> > [flames removed]
> [counterflames removed]
The following remaining snippet fairly well presents the reason why
flames should be left to one-on-one exchanges.
> Folks, I originally solicited advice from the members of this list,
> and posted a summary of responses along with my solutions when it was
> over. I thanked everyone who replied, and thanked the group in general. In
> return I've recieved comments about my syntax and grammar, heard
> disparaging remarks about my technical decisions and absurd allegations
> about my qualifications in general. Have I angered the "experts" that
> subscribe to this list by not using their advice? I don't recall
> recieving ANY advice that was represented as "the ONLY solution" until I
> started questioning some of the replies I've recieved lately.
>
> I still maintain that there can be more than one correct solution to a problem,
> and that you should use solutions that are appropriate for your setup.
>
> Additionally I advise people that "forewarned is forearmed", both when
> configuring web servers and when interpreting the recommendations of
> other people. Read everything you can get your hands on, and actually TRY
> THE STUFF OUT. And remember, the bottom-line is whether or not your
> clients are happy and you can stay in business.
>
> Thanks -
>
> -elroy (elroy@kcstar.com)
Very reasonably stated... and unfortunate that it had to be presented
after a long line of "Yes but's" "you can't do's" and other unnecessary
commentary that we didn't particularly want to see.
For my part, such postings tend to prevent the exchange of the
information both sides are trying to present to the rest of us, and to
each other. It's very easy to take a defensive posture when you think
someone "somewhere" on the net is attacking your POV. I've been there.
I know.
It's a very human trait to feel affronted when an unknown person from
"out there" is "publicly" tearing down our statements.
If you feel you must cut someone to the quick with your wit and superior
knowledge, PLEASE do it directly and leave the rest of us out of the
exchange.
Both sides of the exchange will find it much easier to remain rational,
and when a conclusion is hashed out, most of us are very happy to read
the SUMMARY notice.
`nuff said...
(Please address any flames to my personal mail address below.)
TIA
--
Jim Harmon The Telephone Connection
jim@telecnnct.com Rockville, Maryland
