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Grex > Coop13 > #376: The problems with Grex, e-mail and spam | |
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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 480 responses total. |
spooked
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response 189 of 480:
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Dec 11 21:41 UTC 2006 |
I very much doubt Marcus' quotations/basic spam analysis have been ported
across from SunOS/Sendmail to our current system featuring procmail.
The DEFAULT way to cut spam for Grex (OR SHOULD BE!) is at our mail server
on Grex, BEFORE it reaches user's mailboxes. I have been reading a
technical book dedicated to combatting spam and believe I have the technical
capability to hugely reduce the current epidemic problem of spam facing
Grex user's currently.
The question remains, and the options simple. Does Grex want to move
forward (in anything other than microsteps)? If that is a yes, than staff
should IMMEDIATELY reinstate Dan and myself to staff.
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mcnally
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response 190 of 480:
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Dec 11 23:49 UTC 2006 |
re #189: procmail is a local delivery agent. the program which fills
the sendmail niche in our current configuration is exim.
re #187: that sounds typically Marcus. I'm sure if pressed for an
explanation of why he chose cryptic quotations rather than informative
error messages he'd've given a compelling-sounding explanation about
how readable error messages would have helped the spammers when the
reality is that long after he lost interest in the project other
people were reduced to trying to figure out his cryptic and non-standard
configuration choices.
re #189 (again):
> I have been reading a technical book dedicated to combatting spam
> and believe I have the technical capability to hugely reduce the
> current epidemic problem of spam facing Grex user's currently.
I'm all ears. Perhaps you could write a brief summary to tell us
how you would approach the problem, what resources would be required,
what e-mail would be affected, and what the potential downsides of
your approach would be (in your opinion.) If the approach looks
promising I'm betting that the board will support it, but running it
by the user community for comments would be a great first step.
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spooked
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response 191 of 480:
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Dec 12 00:18 UTC 2006 |
Yes, 'exim' is our current MTA (Mail Transfer Agent) component - thus my
strong doubts the customisations to 'sendmail' that Marcus made on our last
machine would have been ported over to this machine with a new MTA.
'procmail' is a Mail Delivery Agent (MDA) component (sitting between the
MTA and user mailbox software, aka Mail User Agent (MUA) component, albeit
a very powerful one. Customisations to 'exim' and server-interface
'procmail' components is the way to go.
I would require staff re-instatement before I committed my services any
further. It appears as though they do not value my input and technical
capabilities, however.
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mcnally
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response 192 of 480:
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Dec 12 01:55 UTC 2006 |
I was under the impression that you resigned from staff. Its not
surprising if nobody has reinstated you if no request has been
made and you haven't previously indicated a willingness to rescind
your resignation.
I'm not trying to be difficult, though, but if you were evaluating
someone else's proposal, would the "I have a secret plan to reduce spam.
Make me staff and I'll tell you what it is.." be one that you found
persuasive?
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spooked
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response 193 of 480:
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Dec 12 02:11 UTC 2006 |
I have requested to be reinstated to staff about 2 weeks ago...
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keesan
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response 194 of 480:
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Dec 12 03:17 UTC 2006 |
Perhaps next time you or Cross get disgruntled you could just take a leave
of absence from staff instead of resigning? I sympathize with your reasons
from resigning but wish you would stay unresigned.
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cross
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response 195 of 480:
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Dec 12 04:14 UTC 2006 |
Regarding #177; Well, when you don't bother to listen to anyone outside of
your little inner circle then yes, you really do suck.
Regarding #187; Those changes weren't ported to the current platform.
Regarding #192; I've posted a number of suggestions for improving grex's email
situation. I've offered to help. I haven't heard anything back. *Shrug*
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cross
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response 196 of 480:
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Dec 12 04:55 UTC 2006 |
Regarding #194; I think people should protest grex staff's practices. If that
means resigning, then so be it.
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spooked
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response 197 of 480:
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Dec 12 04:56 UTC 2006 |
re:194: Leave of absence: Oh yes, like Grex staff when any decision is
required or real work needs to be done. Nah, I'd rather do the work or
knick off.
The solution/s (as there are many) to dramatically reducing spam (and
I'm talking 95%+) are not rocket science (by any means!), and there are
mighty fine people on Grex offering to help deliver those solution/s. I'm
sure significantly less talented people have solved this problem many,
many, many times before --- but have one big advantage, access and
delight from the sysadmins.
If I was a Grex member, I would not be happy. Hell, I am just a Grex user
and I am NOT happy with staff apathy and non-leadership by example here.
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spooked
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response 198 of 480:
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Dec 12 05:00 UTC 2006 |
Dan slipped-in... but, funnily enough, his thoughts echoed mine entirely.
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rcurl
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response 199 of 480:
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Dec 12 06:44 UTC 2006 |
Isn't it the Board that appoints (and dis-appoints) staff? Have you gone to
a board meeting to make your case?
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spooked
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response 200 of 480:
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Dec 12 06:52 UTC 2006 |
I am in Australia.
Somehow after all the years I served on Grex's staff, I don't think I have
to justify my capabilities/sincerity/diligence etc to anyone.
This is more about the poor culture and attitude of a select few on Grex's
staff than my quals.
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rcurl
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response 201 of 480:
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Dec 12 07:07 UTC 2006 |
Have you, then, determined the board's position on this? You deserve a clear
position from them.
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spooked
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response 202 of 480:
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Dec 12 07:28 UTC 2006 |
I suspect the board, if diligent, should be reading this discussion.
PLEASE speak up.
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cross
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response 203 of 480:
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Dec 12 14:23 UTC 2006 |
The board has stated in the October minutes that they won't do anything with
respect to staff without input from staff, which has not been forthcoming.
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keesan
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response 204 of 480:
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Dec 12 14:44 UTC 2006 |
Is there a staff meeting scheduled in the near future? Are there regular
scheduled staff meetings? An official policy for how to appoint staff?
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cross
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response 205 of 480:
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Dec 12 15:26 UTC 2006 |
I'm sure you can find all of that information by careful reading of what has
already been posted, Sindi. I really have no idea.
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keesan
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response 206 of 480:
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Dec 12 15:32 UTC 2006 |
A former staff member knows nothing about when staff meets? Has there EVER
been a policy?
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rcurl
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response 207 of 480:
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Dec 12 15:50 UTC 2006 |
The policy is in the bylaws, available as Item 2 in Coop. But that just says
the Board does all the staff appointing (and dis-appointing by inference).
In any case, if the Board wants to hear from Staff on this, let us hear from
Staff. Staff: do you have any problem with spooked being (re)appointed to
Staff by the Board and, if so, what is it?
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cross
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response 208 of 480:
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Dec 12 16:11 UTC 2006 |
Regarding #206; I've never participated in a staff meeting. The last time
I tried to participate in a board meeting, I was told there was no room for
me to dial in.
Regarding #207; Just Mic?
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cmcgee
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response 209 of 480:
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Dec 12 16:31 UTC 2006 |
I'm glad to hear those ghost filters are gone.
I too wish Cross and spooked were back on staff. I'd like to hear from
Board members exactly what they need from Grex users/members in order to
quickly move forward on reappointing them.
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jadecat
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response 210 of 480:
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Dec 12 16:52 UTC 2006 |
My only qualm, as a member and not a board member, is the issue of
having hot tempers- of their both resigning in a huff and now rethinking.
Tempers and ego will always be an issue (as a general statement for
anyone, not just for these two) so can either of Mic or Dan give any
reassurances that the next time they feel pissed off/unheard/shat on
that they won't again quit in a huff and then later come back and want
to be part of staff again?
Yo-yo-ing I'm Staff/I'm not/I'm Staff/I'm not doesn't exactly speak for
staff stability. Now I know this last time around it was a removal due
to poor communication, and no reinstatement due to Mic quitting.
That said, their interest in helping to improve Grex is something Grex
really needs right now.
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jep
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response 211 of 480:
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Dec 12 18:16 UTC 2006 |
Neither cross nor spooked did any damage in the way they resigned. I
don't have any qualms about them returning. I hope they can.
Marcus is still on staff, right? How long since he's done anything on
Grex? STeve has had absences of months. Dan and spooked have remained
active, offered suggestions, and participated as non-staff members as
much as they could. Why should dropping out of the staff count against
them in any way? I perceive no absence of regard for their abilities,
or their trustworthiness. They both say they are interested in applying
their skills to at least one problem of crucial importance to Grex.
What's the argument for keeping them *off* staff, again?
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spooked
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response 212 of 480:
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Dec 12 18:29 UTC 2006 |
I resigned because I was not offered an apology. I still to this day
have not been offered an apology by that certain individual whose
discretionary behaviour was not appropriate, and (whilst the discussion
has been done in discussion out of my eyes) I can bet who has since gone
conveniently missing (again) when any decision (with regards to positive
contribution) involving cross or myself needs to be made.
I don't like to get personal, but I have stated on the record this IS
personal for a small few persons on staff. It is about reputations and
friendships spanning over a decade instead of what IS being done, and what
has NOT been done in the last few years.
I did think America was a democracy, fair and equal. At least that's what
I hear from watching Fox News. How the Grex staff operates is not the best
example of this.
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jep
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response 213 of 480:
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Dec 12 18:49 UTC 2006 |
The Grex staff is not a democracy. Neither is the company I work for.
Why should they be? Would you want Grex to vote on whether you should,
I don't know, delete some file or spend your time on a project of your
choosing? Grex is a democracy but the staff is not.
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