[Asterisk-Users] List Issue

[steve szmidt]

As I see it we are all a bit better and a bit worse on various subjects.
But one thing most of us have in common is being basically decent people 
trying to help.

Very seldom do we get some fool who's trying to undermine or sabotage our 
efforts. One thing that helps keeping a list friendly is to keep demeaning 
comments off-list, and only after several failures do so publicly. Even then 
it's seldom of any value, as few others usually even want to read it. 97.5% 
of the time it's only interesting to two people.

Being that the size of our list has so many different people with various 
backgrounds and levels of understanding, not only of Asterisk but also of 
English, we are bound to run into things that looks, well... bad. 

It's very easy to read into things the wrong meaning when you don't know the 
spirit it said in. When I see various things like html or mispostings I 
always try to handle it offline. (Not that I have not made mistakes.)

But it takes the edge of the "blade" and keeps it a more friendly place.

If you feel a guy is full of it tell him offline. And if you ask what he meant 
in a way that is non confrontational he's more likely to answer properly and 
realizing the errors of his way, apologize. 

When a service company makes a mistake with my account, I call them up and 
make them my ally against the problem that occurred. Makes them willing to 
solve it. I might even say (in a calm manner) that I'm very unhappy, and add 
that I know You did not do it, but I want you to know that I'm unhappy.

Amazing how far you can get with some elbow grease. (No crude comments 
here : )

On the all, I think this is a great list with some very competent and willing 
people. People who's making the growth of Asterisk possible through their 
valiant efforts. Keep up the good work!

-- 

Steve Szmidt

"There's always two sides to any dispute, 
        your job is to fully understand them."