I've been reading this conversation with considerable interest. I, too,
receive my list in email and have found it a simple matter to simply hit
the delete key for all messages with a subject line I've learned has
noting of interest to me.
I also was amazed the 800w thread lasted so long after it clearly
had absolutely nothing to do with the 800w Treo.
And I was a bit surprised at the lack of rancor that has accompanied
some other off-topic threads.
All that said, I have observed something over my not insignificant
experience wandering the planet: such discussions will eaither die a
natural death or become a full-fledged rebellion, the latter albeit
usually of the peaceful variety.
During the Vietnam experience, we went a long time believing we were
right to fight Communism wherever it bloomed. We made criminals of those
who objected, and forced many of them to leave the country, labeled as
"draft dodgers.
But eventually, the press got behind the anti-Vietnam war side.
A few years ago, we all were ready to turn some Iraq into a glass
parking lot. I work for a newspaper that, like most other news outlets
in the nation, merely reported the sentiment. That is, after all, the
job of a news outlet - to record and point out the way things are,
leaving to the readers and viewers the job of changing what they don't like.
And the sentiment has changed. There is a strong movement toward
pulling out of Iraq.
Which side of those issues one takes, it is in places like this that
they start. The problem with "going to another group that deals with the
subject" is that those other groups tend to be polarized even more than
groups that regard anything about politics or iPhones to be "off topic."
What's going to be interesting to this aging journalist is whether
such discussions die out, or take on their own lives external to
discussions which, rightfully, should and will return to talk about
Treos and whether the latest app is causing problems and how to fix the
problems. (I've received a lot of help with my Treo680 from members of
this and a couple other related forums.)
I've rambled longer than I intended. Sorry about that. I'll crawl
back in the woodwork now.
On 07/11/2008 3:56:32 PM -0400
Jim O'Sullivan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 1. You're asking me to ignore a thread in a TREO group whose subject
> is "Treo 800w" wherein they're discussing politics.
