Aryeh Gregor writes,

> I'm not assuming that -- I've been idling in the secret channel for a 
> while now. (I keep almost saying its name, argh. Channels that aren't 
> access-restricted and rely on secret names are annoying.) Most of it 
> is just chitchat. But that's exactly something that the broader 
> community should be part of, so that staff doesn't form its own group 
> that excludes volunteers.

As a student of human communication, I'd like to affirm what Aryeh 
says.  Chit-chat is phatic communication -- part of group-forming and 
the way that people form social ties and learn how to work together.

Saying "we chit-chat over here" and "discuss development over there" 
imagines a false dichotomy between the two kinds of conversations, and 
draws a line between the two groups.  It ought to be "we chit-chat and 
discuss development together."

Pete


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