ControlFreal's Journal: Support a Euro-section in slashdot!

The issue of having a European section in slashdot was recently raised in a discussion about the European IP-laws (the "Euro-DMCA").

As about a quarter of all Slashdotians are Europeans, this is warranted.

Borrowing Rams+ein's words (at his suggestion):

Slashdot has done a good job of reporting and fostering discussion on political issues in the USA. However, much of the badness that happens in the States, because of flawed laws and a flawed legal system is threatening to happen in Europe as well, as a result of introducing similar laws, without people being adequately aware that this is happening. Many slashdot readers know about the DMCA and its pitfalls, but awareness of the EUCD is much lower, even among European readers. Any discussions concerning the Rest of the World tend to be overshadowed by discussions about the USA.

The source of the problem appears to be the US-centric nature of slashdot. To salvage this, europeans could turn to their own sources for news and discussions concerning them, but I do not believe this is the Right Thing. It separates the communities, which favors alienation over mutual understanding, and makes both sides miss out on insightful and interesting comments made on the other side. Instead, I advocate that slashdot add sections for different parts of the world, so that readers from each part can get news concerning them, while still participating in global discussions and having the option to join discussions concerning those in other parts of the world.

So, support the idea! Sign this petition by replying, and put a link in your sig.

Suggestions are of course welcome.

First Signature :p

[RAMMS+EIN]

I will happily be the first to sign. Have you notified slashdot's leadership yet?

Also, I would like to suggest that you use my original wording [slashdot.org] in the petition; I think it explains things a little more in-depth (rather than just refering to ``trolling'', which seems a bit generic to me). Just a suggestion, though; it's good as it is.

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Het enige wat je zeker weet, is dat je nooit wat zeker weet.

Re:First Signature :p

[ControlFreal]

... I would like to suggest that you use my original wording...

You're right. I've changed it.

Het enige wat je zeker weet, is dat je nooit wat zeker weet.

Dat is absoluut waar ;) Ik had in eerste instantie ingeschat dat je uit Duitsland kwam, gezien je Nickname.

Je Maintiendrai

[RAMMS+EIN]

``Ik had in eerste instantie ingeschat dat je uit Duitsland kwam, gezien je Nickname.''

Tsja, ik noem mezelf normaal Inglorion, maar die kon ik niet krijgen op slashdot. Rammstein is de naam van een duitse band - ik luisterde er indertijd naar omdat zoveel mensen in Nederland een hekel aan duits en duitsers leken te hebben, hoewel ze IMO tegenwoordig een van de betere (in de zin van `right') volkeren in Europa zijn.

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Qui in ventem urinat se lavare constat.

Good idea

[Lade]

I also think that Euro-section would help European-related news to be more actively discussed... however, it's important to take into consideration that we don't want to separate people in different continents too much, as many news affect people internationally. Also, IMO many Europeans like to be informed on what's happening in US also, as we can expect some consequenses that deeds of multi-national companies have had in US to come into Europe with some delay also (I'm referring to laws, health-problems t

Good idea!

[infolib]

There'll be lots of stuff to write about, and those who really don't want to hear about it will not have to.

Bad Idea

[Jonas the Bold]

I don't see any reason to have a Europe section since there isn't a North America section, an asian section, or any other section. Europe's tech laws can fit under YRO just like the American ones.

I don't see any point in breaking Slashdot apart into nationalities or geographic regions. The good thing about it is that it brings all us geeks together, we don't need actively seperate ourselves again.

Re:Bad Idea

[Tango42]

You make a very good point. I think there should be sections for each continent. Why can't we have 2 sets of catagories? A "where" and a "what". The whats being what we have now, and the wheres being a list of continents (or even countries) (and a World catagory, and a Space catagory)

Re:Bad Idea

[itbwtcl]

The "where" of an article is usually stated in the paragraph on the front page. I'm not sure of the reasoning of introducing geographical divisions into article categories. A YRO article has implications for everyone, no matter where they live. As, usually, does any article I see on Slashdot. Placing "Europe," "Asia," "South America," "North America," or "Australia" category flags on articles would do nothing more than reinforce physical world divisions in a net based forum.

The impact of the struggle

Re:Bad Idea

[Tango42]

After reading your point, and thinking it over, I agree. I think geography should be kept out of /.

Re:Bad Idea

[hashinclude]

Not really. Even if the where of the article is listed in the post itself, /. cannot index stories by where.

Also, some things are not really relevant to people (remember - some newspapers refer to /. as a News site not a geek site) in a different geo-location. Example: Comet hitting a non-area51 section in a desert that noone outside the US and Mexico can properly pronounce won't be particularly interesting to people outside that region (except geeks; that too for the coolness factor only)

Also, if I need

Re:Bad Idea

[Tango42]

/. is a geek site, so saying "except geeks" is pointless. If geeks will be interested, everyone on /. will be interesting (give or take).

Re:Bad Idea

[ControlFreal]

I see your point, but basically what often happens now is that most of the YRO (and related) stories are US-based. I've tried to submit Europe-related YRO stories a good number of times, but they are invariably rejected.

A YRO-europe section might see more of those stories accepted.

Re:Bad Idea

[kernelistic]

I suggest you check out slashdot.jp [slashdot.jp].

Also, Slashdot isn't the only website that covers geek news [kuro5hin.org].

Hear, hear!

[eggstasy]

I endorse this product and/or service.

Indeed...

[Gleng]

Sounds like a good plan!

That's a good idea

[Patrice]

I support the idea. Not to exacerbate divisions between Europe and the US, or any other part of the world for that matter, but I believe some subjects might relate first to Europe in itself. It might also rise the awareness among our American friends that they're not alone on this planet.

PS: I would also support other geopolitic sections as well (Asia, Japan, South & Central America, ...), although I'm not aware how many ./ers are from these places...