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Re: [LI] GNU tar-1.11.8 - y2k !?



Dear freinds

In what follows I am neither asking for help related to linux, nor
giving a solution to any query posted earlier in the list. Due
apologies for what follows from a patient who suffers a *syndrome*,
and the one who indulges in a *sport* called `play administrator'.
But it concerns us, nevertheless, because it is regarding the health
of *our* linux-india mailing list. Please read on, if you are still
interested.

\begin{section}{Punctured Equilibrium}

On Thu, 6 Jan 2000, Atul Chitnis wrote the following numbered
items among other things:

       ->On Wed, 5 Jan 2000, Nagarjuna G. wrote:
       ->
       ->> Gopi, if you took it as a flame, I am sorry.

1. ->Actually, your comment to Gopi about what this list is about is a syndrome
   ->that is sorely troubling the list - everyone here is wants to play
   ->administrator.

Thanks Atul.  We have a good (online) doctor on the list for treating
syndromes of people like me who spoil the list.  We are in good hands!

2. ->Did you have any clue who Gopi Garge was when you posted that
   ->"administrative" message? Try these clues - ERnet, thousands of Unix/Linux
   ->systems, tens of thousands of users, director at Exocore Consulting (a
   ->predominantly Linux firm), PCQ Linux Project member.....


Thanks again Atul for informing people who suffer from syndrome to
know that it is not the message content that is important, but the
*person* who writes it. An academic and unbiased mind (synonymously a
mind that suffers from syndromes) like mine who looks at the content
and not at the person. If that was Linus, I would have thought the
same way, because you see, I cant help it. Do you all know why,
because I have a *syndrome* to play *administartor* which has not yet
been cured.

BTW, it would be worthwhile for the real administrator of the list to
check the archives of linux-india to see how many administrative
messages did this person suffering from the syndrome (alias myself)
typed. This man with the syndrome has been on the list since its
inception. That will help diagnosing how far the disease has affected
the patient.

3. ->*Now* examine your "administrative" message to him again in this context.

Please all of you examine the message sent by me:

``Did you check at the www.gnu.org? Possibly you may have to upgrade
your solaris version.  BTW we are not a solaris list.  Nagarjuna''

I said this because I have been using and taking backups using tar
(GNU tar V 1.12 to be precise) that was compiled for Linux, even
before/after the date has rolled into y2k. This I have been doing on
both Debian 2.1, and SuSE 6.2 systems.  I sincerely thought (and
obviously mistook) the problem is Solaris specific.  I felt thankful
to all those who educated me regarding the bug and solutions to it,
and that part of the thread was educating and useful.

If I was replying to some other `minor' in the list, it would have
meant different, but because it was Gopi, I can't talk like this. (I
don't know why Gopi remained silent, I felt more hurt because he felt
silent.) At least two people have cautioned me in this list: `you know
whom you are telling this'. Honestly I have not looked at the sender's
name while replying, because I have been (self)trained to bracket out
the particulars in order to look at the *essence* by eliminating the
accidental stuff. I didn't realize that it has come from Gopi till
Sachin sent the caution: ``I feel one should look at the antecedents
of who the person is, before slinging such caustic comments.'' I
haven't still figured out how my comment was cuastic. It could be a
failure of my comprehension due to the disease being treated here
online.

4. ->- you are by far not the only one who indulges in this sport, and I am
   ->just using your message as an example to illustrate the problem.

Thanks for choosing a deserving case.  Please treat the person who
``indulges in this sport'' urgently, and patent the remedy. Or
distribute it free if you are a true Dr.GNU.

\end{section}

\begin{section}{Postscript}

I am helpless as you may have realized by now.  If you want to know
why I took this so seriously, and also felt deeply hurt, you should
take time and look at the archives of our mailing list, and see how
many mails have been written by Atul prescribing us as to how one
should behave and what to talk.  (You may say who else will do all
this other than the administator, he is performing his job
responsibly.)  BTW I just love the other Atul who spends lots of his
time answering questions and keeping every body well informed.  I just
don't like the self-professing administrator Atul. (Did I split your
personality Atul? Who the hell am I to do this?)

I wish linux-india list will promote the spirit of democratic and
socialist principles which are behind the GNU/Linux phenomenon world
over. It is self-organization that helps build stable but dynamic
systems, where every participant matters.  There are no directors in
GNU incorporation.

Sorry for disturbing all those who have read this far. Flames are
welcome, I deserve them.

from GNU 

This is how one of my friend baptized me having seen how passionately
I have been promoting GNU stuff since long.

\end{section}

Nagarjuna G.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Infected by GNU bug since 1989, and has since discovered that the
antidote for the bug is found in GNU itself, which is a
self-correcting movement.
------------------------------------------------------------------


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