Poster
Thread
Anonymous
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
MEPIS and
the military offer
I will be
brief.
I praise the technical benefits MEPIS offers when in comparison with
any other distro i have tested.
Since i belive it should remain apart from any explicit political
option, i have to state my absolute refusal concerning MEPIS LLC latest
initiative. There are people from diverse tendencies and geographies
helping
I'm sure this view of mine is shared by most of the users.
This is definitively not the way to bring people together and build a
better desktop for everyone.
What i am about to ask will likely grant me a kick out from this portal.
Why not 100.000 free copies to the famalies of iraqi civilians already
slaughered?
I feel sad. That's all.
Manchine.
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Manchine,
while I think everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I have
already stated many times on this site, that this site is for helping
Mepis users and is not going to become a site where people take it over
to try and force their political views onto other people. I am totally
disappointed with how you have been ignoring my requests to keep this
site neutral so that all Mepis users can feel comfortable coming here
for help. Please respect my wishes. I have set rules for this forum
here and I would appreciate you respecting that.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 
......
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Mepis Guide
Joined: 2004/6/25
From: Inola, Ok
Posts: 403
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Well said, Donna.
----------------
Bob
* only man can make the simple so complex *
Anonymous
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Quote:
IS THIS NEUTRAL?
Wrong said, Donna. I'm sorry.
You'll force me to open a fork in this yet early adventure called
"mepis community". You might rule this portal, but not free speech
itself. I quit.
Bye.
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Mepis Lover
Joined: 2004/5/26
From: North
Carolina, USA
Posts: 236
Online
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
I don't
want to offend anyone here but I feel manchine should be allowed to
post this. As long as he doesn't flood a forum or category with it and
it is posted in the right category...I believe it should be allowed.
This is odd for me to say...especially since I am a Staff Sergeant the
USAF who has served in the middle east. However...I think that if there
shouldn't be posts of this nature, it should be clarified the Forum
heading, "General Topics."
This is the explanation of "General Topics" as it is now:
"Here all registered users can create topics to talk about different
issues. Freedom of speech is practiced here but be careful of what you
post because this forum is open to everyone and abusive, offensive
language will be edited or posts even deleted if they have no purpose
in the topic except to offend others. This site and the forums are open
to all people no matter what age, race, nationality, politics, sex or
religion, so please remember that when you post."
Manchine isn't saying anything abusive toward any one person. He's not
using offensive language. And his sole purpose of the topic is not to
offend others. He's expressing an opinion regarding MEPIS and how he
thinks the direction it is going is wrong. While there shouldn't be any
politics in MEPIS...they were supplanted there when
We (used here to include all Americans), may not like what manchine has
to say about the military and what he has to say about the MEPIS
offering for the military. However, because MEPIS LLC has made a
business decision to support Military troops with its distro...Manchine
has every right to critique it IMHO.
In closing, if the site wants posts like this to stay out...it should
be clarified as such...Just my two cents worth. I hope you all have
enough respect for me to take what I have said to heart.
TKS
----------------
TKS
http://mepislinux.org
.........
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
I really
like Mepis!
Joined: 2004/5/14
From: Montana
Posts: 42
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
CBlue, I
would agree with you. If he has a problem it should be addressed on the
MEPIS main site. You have worked hard to keep this forum a positive and
safe place to foster MEPIS. It is too easy for that to be submarined.
There are too many forums that degenerate to that attitude - it is one
of the reasons that I have stayed with MEPIS.
Keep up the great work!
jr
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
TKS, read
"even deleted if they have no purpose in the topic except to offend
others" I'm offended by his posts. So...as you can see my rule does
apply. I could have deleted his post. So how can you say I am trampling
on his rights. If I was doing that he would be banned and his posts
deleted. Do you see his posts missing from here and him not listed as a
member? Please get your facts straight.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Thank you,
jrorion5. I am trying very hard to be as civil as possible with
everyone here. It is my job to keep this site from degenerating into a
political battleground. While I respect the rights of everyone to voice
their opinions, there are plenty of websites devoted to debating
political views. This is not one of them.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Also,
manchine, Mepis is
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Mepis Guide
Joined: 2004/8/5
From:
Posts: 246
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
bah never
mind
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Thank you
Robert and I also want to thank Bob. We all have our differences, we
all have our rights, but this site does not need to become a site where
hatred rules. This site was called Mepis Lovers for a reason. If I
wanted it to be a site where people just argue and fight about their
political views, I would have made it a political site. This is not a
political site. Please respect what this site is supposed to be. A site
for Mepis users to come to for help. A site for Mepis Lovers to come
together to not only help each other but to form a community around
Mepis.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Moderator
Joined: 2004/5/12
From:
Posts: 54
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Cblue:
Stand your ground. While I am all for free speech, it has become the
'fashion' to use it as a tool to hijack every forum by people with
political agendas.
I myself have had to lock a forum topic due to manchine's incalcitrant
attitude toward our moderation of these forums. If we allow this or any
of these forums to become his or anyone else's 'in your face' opinion
forum, we do more of a dis-service to Mepis than anything else.
What
Thanks for your stand. I fully support you.
--MepisBelle 
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Thank you
MepisBelle! I
really appreciate the support. I don't want to see us hijacked or
become a place where visitors wanting to know more about Mepis see
topics all over the place with arguments and discord instead. It would
not look like the name of this site at all.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Anonymous
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
I just
want to add that TKS brightly adreesed this topic and any other post,
including this, makes nothing more than bloating.
TKS, each and any of your lines, including those i could not fully
agree with, have a great and mature reasoning background. Thank you.
Furthermore, if i am the one who does not feel comfortable with this
POLITICAL decision, which clearly involves mepislovers.com and perhaps
suits some users own views, i shall be the one to split and find a
suitable place to express my conceptions.
I still love mepis, for i love THE FACTS and i am engaged with
spreading linux to the broadest audience possible, even to those who,
like me, do not cope with this sudden pro-US Military deviation.
Manchine.
PS: I wonder how this thread would evolve if i came by to welcome
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Mepis Lover
Joined: 2004/5/26
From: North
Carolina, USA
Posts: 236
Online
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Donna,
You're taking what I said the wrong way. What I am saying is that since
MEPIS has chosen to go this way, it means that MEPIS should take the
good criticism on it along with the bad criticism. Since it is a
worldwide distro...it HAS to be that way.
I didn't say you were tromping on his rights...this is your forum and
you decide what is allowed an not allowed...I just think that his
opinion is valid and could possibly represent a view that many users of
MEPIS might have.
If we are to be truly fair, we would have to consider a similar
scenario...even if hypothetical...and then make an honest conclusion.
For instance, would we be having this discussion if
Some MEPIS users are completely opposed to the military. They should be
allowed to express this opinion and discuss it with other MEPIS users.
If there is something offensive, one should strive to remove the
offensive part while maintaining the integrity of the message.
Never once is Manchine discussing politics. He is critiquing the
DECISION MEPIS has made. Why am I having to explain this? Doesn't
anyone else see this? 
My God people, I have been over there in the heat of things. I've
fought for freedom. But to see the freedom we defended tossed out the
window is horrible.
Take it this way. What if MEPIS switched to Gnome for default desktop.
Some people wouldn't like it. Would we not allow them to post their
feelings on this? It's the same thing here. Manchine doesn't like the
decision. He posted his thoughts...he isn't striving to create a
political agenda.
TKS
----------------
TKS
http://mepislinux.org
.........
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
16:04
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
TKS, I
suggest you welcome manchine gladly to your site and let your site be
the place for discussions of political views. I would be very happy if
you would do that. Because I don't welcome having this site degenerate
into an
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Anonymous
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
16:08
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Donna,
Delete me from the database at once. Thank you.
Manchine.
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
16:08
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
You're
welcome, I wasn't going to do it unless you wanted it.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
16:09
I really
like Mepis!
Joined: 2004/8/5
From: Wiltshire
UK
Posts: 52
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
The bit
that worries me about all this is the wider issues it creates/raises.
The Linux community still has something of a beard and sandals image
which has in many ways helped to build the international bridges that
are enjoyed in all countries.
Whilst not exactly apolitical it has remained beyond the reaches of
much if the day to day unpleasantnesses. However, I do worry that some
bunch of idiots will take this as an excuse to park a van full of C4
and nails outside a certain Venture Dr office. I guess
Also one must expect some interesting feedback through, for example,
OSNews as well as many other similar fora.
In the end it is up to
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
16:10
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
Also, TKS,
since you support having political discussions on a Mepis site, your
site could be the perfect place for that. While this site is the place
to actually help Mepis users needing help with Mepis.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
16:15
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
I would
also suggest...that the mepis irc channel be for actually helping Mepis
users and not the forum for political debates. Maybe a creation of a
mepispolitics channel would help to separate the issues discussed on
the channels so that there is more organization, and a purpose for each
channel. Just like with the websites.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......
Posted
on: 2004/11/5
Webmaster
Joined: 2004/5/12
From: South
Carolina, USA
Posts: 3372
Re: MEPIS
and the military offer
I have
locked this topic and I would hope that TKS takes my advice and moves
it over to his own website where it can be discussed in a place where
it may just fit better at.
----------------
Registered Linux Computer # 263856
#mepislovers in irc.freenode.net
Skype me at donna04 ......