8 votes

Can we get a GNU section of ~tech?

I would like to share my rice and stuff like that, but I'm not sure if this is the right place to share. It would be nice to have a place here to chat about GNU news and such/

17 comments

  1. [5]
    Weldawadyathink
    Link
    Why not just post it to ~tech and tag it accordingly? Then, if there is enough activity, the tag could be promoted to a group.

    Why not just post it to ~tech and tag it accordingly? Then, if there is enough activity, the tag could be promoted to a group.

    25 votes
    1. [4]
      0d_billie
      Link Parent
      I keep seeing this discussed, but I've never really seen it satisfactorily explained as to the time at which a tag would be promoted. Is there any kind of indication on this score that I've missed?

      Then, if there is enough activity, the tag could be promoted to a group.

      I keep seeing this discussed, but I've never really seen it satisfactorily explained as to the time at which a tag would be promoted. Is there any kind of indication on this score that I've missed?

      1 vote
      1. [3]
        Grzmot
        Link Parent
        No scoring, just a public discussion, since Deimos is the only and ultimate instance we need to convince here.

        No scoring, just a public discussion, since Deimos is the only and ultimate instance we need to convince here.

        6 votes
        1. [3]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. Diff
            Link Parent
            That's a fair idea. Like I mentioned in a different comment, there are things like desktop threads that might attract attention from multiple groups. ~creative would be relevant for having created...

            That's a fair idea. Like I mentioned in a different comment, there are things like desktop threads that might attract attention from multiple groups. ~creative would be relevant for having created something, but ~comp might also fit because ricing a desktop can be a very technical process. There's also things like the demoscene where it's computer art that has the same problem of fitting into two places at once. It does make a lot of sense for groups to just be another flavor of tag, maybe with the difference from other tags being that at least one is required before posting?

            3 votes
          2. frickindeal
            Link Parent
            If your post is in a more general group (~comp, for instance), you may attract people who never would have searched for that topic into your discussion, or who would have never visited that group,...

            If your post is in a more general group (~comp, for instance), you may attract people who never would have searched for that topic into your discussion, or who would have never visited that group, being it's very specific. I believe (and I haven't really been keeping up, but I was around quite a bit when the site was new-ish) that the intention is still to avoid creating new groups unless the demand is shown to be there for vibrant discussion that's limited to that topic, which always made sense to me (you don't want to fragment your people into groups as finely as reddit does, for instance). Having those topics now in a more general group may actually lead to demand for the more granular topic that would necessitate a new group.

            3 votes
  2. zptc
    Link
    Would it be a better fit for ~comp?

    Would it be a better fit for ~comp?

    13 votes
  3. Diff
    (edited )
    Link
    Is it about time for a holy war? If we had such a group, I think ~comp.linux or (as other people have mentioned) ~comp.unix would be better names. Linux is the commonly known name (nobody posts...

    Is it about time for a holy war?

    If we had such a group, I think ~comp.linux or (as other people have mentioned) ~comp.unix would be better names. Linux is the commonly known name (nobody posts GNU news outside of GNU themselves, using it here would break the principle of least astonishment), and UNIX would be the broader category likely encompassing everything related that people would also care about. GNU isn't automatically relevant, so it'd be unnecessarily exclusive.

    As far as desktop pics themselves, I think it kind of falls in a weird area between ~creative and ~comp. I'd probably lean towards ~creative, maybe with a tag? Not anything Linux/UNIX/GNU-specific though. Plenty of people rice non-Linux/UNIX/GNU systems and there's no reason to section them off from an already small group.

    10 votes
  4. petrichor
    Link
    I'd personally like a ~comp.unix group, but groups are added pretty sparingly and only when there's overwhelming demand. Like others have said, posting that in ~comp and tagging it accordingly...

    I'd personally like a ~comp.unix group, but groups are added pretty sparingly and only when there's overwhelming demand. Like others have said, posting that in ~comp and tagging it accordingly would be the best thing to do.

    Perhaps instead of sharing your setup in a one-off post, you could start a "show off your computer setup" thread? I'm sure others would be interested, and that way ~comp wouldn't get flooded with other posts from other people who want to share theirs as well.

    6 votes
  5. [8]
    joplin
    Link
    What is "rice" in this context?

    What is "rice" in this context?

    5 votes
    1. [7]
      PathOfTheProkopton
      Link Parent
      Like this.
      3 votes
      1. [6]
        joplin
        Link Parent
        Sorry, I'm not understanding. It's screenshots of unix desktops? Is it an acronym?

        Sorry, I'm not understanding. It's screenshots of unix desktops? Is it an acronym?

        4 votes
        1. [3]
          teaearlgraycold
          Link Parent
          IIRC it’s originally a racial term for how Asian people would trick out cars.

          IIRC it’s originally a racial term for how Asian people would trick out cars.

          5 votes
          1. [2]
            vord
            Link Parent
            This post gives a pretty succinct history as I remember it. Was originally a slur from Harley bikers against asian sport/racing cycles. Which, as a sentiment, I get, because there's a massive...

            This post gives a pretty succinct history as I remember it.

            Was originally a slur from Harley bikers against asian sport/racing cycles. Which, as a sentiment, I get, because there's a massive cultural difference between a sport bike and a cruiser.

            America has an especially sordid history with racism and import vehicles. Even moreso than regular American racism, import autos are/were often seen as an attack on American lifestyle, in no small part to it being one of the biggest industries that built the middle class.

            9 votes
            1. joplin
              Link Parent
              Ah, gotcha. I'm familiar with the term for cars, having grown up in a town where they had separate lots for "foreign" cars. I just wasn't up on its current usage. Thank you for the explanation.

              Ah, gotcha. I'm familiar with the term for cars, having grown up in a town where they had separate lots for "foreign" cars. I just wasn't up on its current usage. Thank you for the explanation.

              2 votes
        2. petrichor
          Link Parent
          It's a synonym for customization.

          It's a synonym for customization.

          3 votes
        3. PathOfTheProkopton
          Link Parent
          Sorry I should have explained more. Those unix desktops are "riced". Incase you don't already know they're custom desktops. Kind of.

          Sorry I should have explained more.

          Those unix desktops are "riced". Incase you don't already know they're custom desktops. Kind of.

          2 votes
  6. Eric_the_Cerise
    Link
    I would also vote for a dedicated ~comp.linux or ~comp.unix (or, my preference and probably the broadest, ~comp.foss) subgroup. I'm a programmer, and 90% or more of my tech interests fall under...

    I would also vote for a dedicated ~comp.linux or ~comp.unix (or, my preference and probably the broadest, ~comp.foss) subgroup. I'm a programmer, and 90% or more of my tech interests fall under one or all of those categories.

    1 vote