[Ccil-user] tech-priesthood@lists.ccil.org

[Miles Nordin]

>>>>> "cp" == Chuck Peters <cp@ccil.org> writes:
>>>>> "jp" == Jackie Patti <jpatti@mainline-consulting.com> writes:

    cp> I am not sure why you felt it was more appropriate to send
    cp> your comments to the list rather than to send any technical
    cp> qualifications or comments to tech-core-admin@lists.ccil.org

Well, you're asking two questions here, Chuck.  The first is why I
asked ``what's wrong with tech-core,'' rather than sending
``qualifications and comments.''  The answer is that I don't have any
comments, and no one inquired about my qualifications.  I only got
mail from a robot, followed by a day of silence.

The second is why I responded in ccil-user rather than
tech-core-admin.  Three reasons: first, because the
subscribe--to--tech-core suggestion came from this list so the issue
ought to be resolved on this list also.  Second, because Donald
mentioned ``escalated personality conflicts'' as a key parameter to
the current crisis, which makes me think that confining discussion to
an underused robot-address read by one arbitrary person might be a bad
idea.  Third, because, why not?  Where is the harm?

    cp> Your subject of tech-priesthood@lists.ccil.org might start a
    cp> flame war, but its not going to help with technical issues.

I agree that it might start a flame war, but disagree that it won't
help with technical issues.  If indeed ``We have only a handful of
technical volunteers to maintain our current services, and we need new
technical volunteers,'' then a frank discussion about the obstacles
that new technical volunteers face is both topical and helpful.

    cp> the mail services I setup and maintain are as reliable or
    cp> better than any place.

Donald's original desperate plea requested technical volunteers, but
it sounds like you don't need them.  Are technical volunteers needed
or not?  

If they are needed, what do you want volunteers with technical skills
to do?  

If technical volunteers are not needed, that's all you have to say:
``we're always interested in new ideas, but Donald is incorrect in
that there is no technical `crisis'---our current urgent technical
projects do not suffer from understaffing.''  Believe it or not, I do
have other ways to spend my time.

    jp> ccil-tech@lists.ccil.org - your suggestions would be welcome
    jp> there.

Thanks, Chuck and Jackie.  However, I don't have suggestions, and I'm
not interested in ``mentoring.''  I'm responding to a plea for
technical volunteers.  Why is this so difficult?  Either you need
help, or you don't.

    jp> CCIL has a history of extremely dedicated and motivated
    jp> volunteers

That's wonderful.  Unfortunately, I'm not particularly dedicated or
motivated myself---I just happen to have a bit of free time.  I'm also
not interested in volunteering administrative, leadership, or generic
mailing-list-bantering services---I'm open to volunteering in a
technical capacity only.  It sounds as though my competence and
inclination is a poor match for what CCIL needs right now.

I hope you find the extremely dedicated and motivated volunteers that
you need to survive, because I greatly appreciate your mission and
your service.

-- 
Five years after launching our first broadcast---using a 40-watt
transmitter to televise a goldfish in a glass bowl swimming to the
sounds of Beethoven---our dreams have been shattered.
		-- Daoud Kuttab, Al Quds TeeVee station