[sword-devel] summary

[Martin Gruner]

Thank you, Wesley.

mg

On Saturday 29 November 2008 03:35:03 Wesley Harp wrote:
> Chris,
>
> I realize I'm a new voice around here and a lot of the technical aspects of
> this are over my head.  I do however have experience in other open source
> communities so some things I know a little about.
>
> First, let me say that no matter how many total people are on a mailing
> list, the people who contribute frequently and even infrequently is the
> number of people you should be talking about as your actual subscription
> base.  The people who contribute often and are outspoken are the ones who
> care the most.  If people aren't responding to at least agree or disagree
> one way or the other, then they aren't as concerned with the outcome and in
> many cases aren't even following the discussions at all, but are likely
> deleting the messages outright.
>
> While you might not think forking or dying is a concern, these are usually
> things that happen and end up blindsiding someone or a group of people.
> Your responses about this seem almost like a dismissal and not a more
> appropriate desire to maintain a cohesive working group.  People in
> positions of leadership need to respect and listen to others in the
> community and need to work towards ensuring a smooth working system.  I'm
> not sure if this community generally functions smoothly or not, but so far
> it's not making a great impression on me.
>
> You say that you are listening to feedback and opinions, but from what I've
> seen in my admittedly short time here and what I've read in the archives,
> you really aren't.  If a group of users is vocal enough to repeatedly ask
> and plead for something, but you give them nothing, that's not listening.
>
> To the list as a whole:
>
> What concerns me most about this community from what I've seen so far is
> that it seems to operate no differently than any other open source
> community I've been a part of.  In fact, so far it seems to be worse off
> than most. While obviously technical discussion are going to be a large
> part of this, I am baffled that not once has anyone talked about the
> spiritual implications of these decisions.  Is this making it harder to get
> content to believers and non-believers?  Are delays in modules being
> published hindering people's ability to study God's Word?  What's more
> important in God's Eyes - making the content available in a timely manner,
> or crossing every t and dotting every i?  I don't know what's in your
> heart, your reasons for doing something, or even your relationship with
> God, but if a group of believers cannot come together and work cohesively
> to further God's Kingdom what chance do we have of winning even one soul?
>
>  I'm sure many of you are familiar with this verse, but think of this when
> communicating with others you may have trouble dealing with on this list,
> and in general:
>
> Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good
> for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who
> hear.
>
>
> Ephesians 4:29
>
> I hope my first impressions of this community are wrong and that I haven't
> started off by alienating myself.
>
> Wesley