Google Groups + this list

[Ned Batchelder]

On 12/24/13 8:47 PM, rurpy at yahoo.com wrote:
> On 12/23/2013 09:12 AM, Chris Angelico wrote:
>
>> Also,
>> you haven't answered the other part of the post, the more important
>> part.
>
> Refresh my memory please.
>

Ugh, stop!  We get it: you don't think Google Groups is bad.  Or you 
think it can be made to work, or something.  That's fine.  But you are 
going to have to reason a little more subtly than, "all software has bugs."

As Chris has pointed out, the bugs in Google Groups affect every reader 
of the list.  Bugs in other software don't, at least not to the same extent.

Rurpy, you seem to be willfully ignoring the aggravation people are 
experiencing.  And people who hate Google Groups: you seem to be 
overlooking the fact that it's difficult for the users of Google Groups 
to understand its flaws, or to see the effect it has on the list.

I'll repeat my proposal (for everyone):

1) Don't fault newcomers for using Google Groups.  Politely suggest 
alternatives, but only if you are also helping them, or if they have 
already gotten help.

2) Be careful how you rail against Google Groups.  When you call its 
results "crap" (for example), it can sound like an insult to the poster. 
  You mean to refer to Google Groups, but remember you are also 
referring to the poster's words.

3) Don't let's get into protracted internal debates about Google Groups. 
  It is for the moment at least, an unavoidable part of this list.

Do you disagree?

-- 
Ned Batchelder, http://nedbatchelder.com