Re: RFD: comp.object.moderated moderated

[Bertrand Meyer <Bertrand.Meyer@eiffel.com>]

`comp.object.moderated' is a blatant attempt at censoring
any non-conforming view on object technology. (The censorship
has already begun with the redirection of replies to a single
newsgroup that no one reads. Please refuse this and reply to the
newsgroups where the original was posted, as I am doing -- with 
some difficulty -- here. I can't believe the arrogance of posting
on a newsgroup and trying to bar others from replying on the same forum!)

`comp.object.moderated' is a bad solution to a non-existent problem.
The level of noise and off-topic discussions on comp.object is
quite reasonable. Many of the group discussions are informative and
useful. It provides an excellent forum for discussions of O-O issues.
It's a great opportunity for novices to meet experts. I personally
learned a lot from it over the years, including from postings that
wouldn't have stood a chance under the proposed censorship rules.

For unknown reasons a group of self-appointed guardians of
object morality have decided that they alone know what is acceptable
and what is not. They should be encouraged to create their own
mailing list, but have no right to take over the comp.object name.
(I know, the unmoderated comp.object group would theoretically remain,
but newcomers will naturally assume that the "serious stuff" is on
the newsgroup that has the same name with the added suffix "moderated".)

This is a serious matter (that's why I am taking the time to write
this message). By suppressing the more forward-looking views and
always bowing to the "safe" majority choices even when everyone knew
they were plainly wrong, we software people as a community have
pathetically betrayed our duty to society, as witnessed by the
shameful Year 2000 mess and other looming disasters. We badly need,
for the honor of our profession and the well-being of society,
to let alternative views express themselves freely. Today, because
of the power of hype and marketing and the irresponsibiliy of some
of the very organizations that should support serious technical debate,
there are precious few avenues of expression left for non-majority views
in software technology.  comp.object is one of the best.
Do not let anyone take it away from you.

To the authors of this proposal: if you really want to have an O-O
group tailored to your own view, you are entitled to creating it
but you are NOT entitled to the name comp.object. Start your own
Web-archived mailing list, or a newsgroup with a less portentous name.

To all others: don't let this proposal be passed sneakily
on `news.groups' why you read the interesting stuff on comp.object.
Kill it before it kills you.

-- 
Bertrand Meyer, Interactive Software Engineering
ISE Building, 2nd Floor, 270 Storke Road Goleta, CA 93117 USA
805-685-1006, Fax 805-685-6869,
<Bertrand.Meyer@eiffel.com>, http://eiffel.com

-- 
Bertrand Meyer, Interactive Software Engineering
ISE Building, 2nd Floor, 270 Storke Road Goleta, CA 93117 USA
805-685-1006, Fax 805-685-6869,
<Bertrand.Meyer@eiffel.com>, http://eiffel.com