Re: [gentoo-dev] [RFC] Splitting developer-oriented and expert user mailing lists

[Richard Bradfield]

On Sun, Dec 03, 2017 at 11:33:11PM +0100, Gerion Entrup wrote:
>I'm a long term Gentoo user, but have read this list a few month only, so
>correct me, if I'm wrong. I've seen the main usage of this list in three
>aspects:
>1. Review and discussion of new (technical) features (eclasses, EAPI, package
>manager specs).
>2. Information about unmaintained packages.
>3. Input and proposals from users.
>
>Splitting the list would reduce the meaning of gentoo-dev to the first point.
>The second point has to be handled on the expert list (or both lists), so
>proxy maintainers can reply. The third point can only be handled on the expert
>list, but core developers have to read it, otherwise the whole point would be
>meaningless.
>
>In other projects with similar problems but the technical possibility to moderate
>some "code of conduct" was adopted, so moderators can ban users on that base
>for a fixed amount of time.
>
>Gerion

I'm normally just a lurker in this list, so the changes are unlikely to affect me
directly, but I think Gerion hits it on the head here.

Is there such a stratification between "Gentoo Developers" (and those
'blessed' by such developers) and "Expert Gentoo Users" that justifies
silo-ing the two groups off into their own mailing lists?

If this distinction is present and vitally important, then by all means
create a separate list, but is the reduction in traffic really worth the
loss of input from your long-term, but "non developer" users?

If this is really a moderation issue, surely the bad actors will simply move
their alleged trolling to the -experts list, which will cause the core
developers to cease reading it, leading to a breakdown in the user to
developer discussions that currently take place via -dev?

--
Richard