Re: Posting from work/university addresses

Anmol P. Paralkar
2007-07-30T23:07:58Z

Hello Jim,

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007, Jim Blandy wrote:

>
> I've noticed a number of posters to the GDB lists recently who I'd
> guess were professionals working on real-world stuff, but coming from
> gmail/yahoo/hotmail accounts instead of work or university addresses.
> From various other cues I'd guess they were from countries with
> growing technology industries, like China, India, or Russia.
>
> I'm curious --- is there some reason people avoid posting to the GDB
> mailing lists from their work/uni addresses?

In the case of work address: Some companies require inclusion of/automatically include
a disclaimer notice at the end of the message and sometimes it's against list policy
to post messages with such disclaimers in them. So e.g. in the gcc list, such posters
are kindly advised to use a free account like in:

http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc/2007-07/msg00732.html

(Not that the advice is always heeded).

Sometimes employers do not permit using "official" work addresses for a variety of
(typically: narrow-minded) reasons - and that can happen independent of locale
- it's more employer (policy) specific.

> I certainly hope that people feel comfortable posting to the GDB
> lists, and expect their posts to get the same attention anyone else's
> would, regardless of where they live or who they work for. One of the
> things I've always enjoyed about working on Free software is the way
> competent people appear from all over to work on a project that is
> worthwhile to them. And open source has historically been a place
> where people can count on being judged by their ability, and not where
> they live. If that's not true, we're in trouble.

The responses on the GDB list are always encouraging and as a GDB newbie
I have always found the responses educating and reassuring.

>
> My company specifically encourages its employees to post under their
> work addresses, as a way to raise the company's profile and to show
> off its participation in the public projects.
>
> As I say, I'm only asking this out of curiousity. I'm happy to see
> people contributing to GDB in whatever way they like best.
>

True, it does feel great to work for an employer who supports Free Software and
encourages development and community participation as a first-class activity! :)

Thanks & Regards,
Anmol.

>