[Novalug] Good-bye -- was "Baiting Beltway Bandits" & "Linux admin IQ"

[Paul D. Bain]

American Dave wrote:
>> OK, smug, security-cleared MotherFu's, can you best my score?
> 
> This is a pretty stern email.  I don't expect to see a flood of your
> target demographic asking for forgiveness, jpeg of low scores in tow.
> 
> Security clearances are formalities.  Most places that
> "require" them are perfectly willing to sponsor them.

American Dave,

	My "stern email" was not aimed at you, American Dave. It is obvious to 
me that you are one of the smartest and most knowledgeable participants 
on this mailing list (ML). My email was aimed at others. In recent 
months, I have received private emails from well over a _dozen_ of this 
ML's participants, each email informing me (in no uncertain terms) that 
I am experiencing protracted unemployment (nearly 17 months now) because 
I am either stupid or ignorant. My detractors claim, IOW, that my plight 
is due to my deficiencies and not to recent demographic trends or my 
lack of a security clearance. I suspect that the overwhelming majority 
of the persons who sent me such an email have a security clearance (SC). 
Of course, I cannot verify this suspicion. My stern email was aimed 
solely at these ML participants, my detractors. The purpose of my email 
was to make it clear to my detractors that I am not unemployed because I 
am either stupid or ignorant, but, to the contrary, that I am unemployed 
despite the fact that I am smarter and more knowledgeable than most of 
them. I do not care whether they agree with me on this matter.

	BTW, this email shall be one of the last that I will send to this ML. I 
shall unsubscribe (from this ML) soon, probably in a few days. I did not 
want to unsubscribe without giving my detractors a good, solid jab. IOW, 
my "stern email" was my parting shot at my detractors on this ML.

	After I unsubscribe, I shan't abandon either Linux or OSS, of course, 
merely this ML and a career in information technology (IT). My next 
career shall be in legal technology (LT), not IT. To the extent that my 
IT career is over, my participating on this ML would be a waste of my 
time. These days, I spend far more time on ML's and web fora that are 
devoted to LT, not IT. Such time is a far wiser expenditure, at least 
for me.

	I now wish that I had unsubscribed a long time ago, about 20 months 
ago. I now realize that it was a mistake for me to linger on this ML for 
so long after it became clear to me that my political ideology was 
sharply at odds with that of the overwhelming majority of this ML's 
participants, most of whom have SC's. Why did I linger for so long? Well 
there were probably two reasons. First, I experienced profound 
ambivalence with respect to this ML and its participants. I liked, 
respected, and admired NoVA LUG's members as much as I hated them. My 
ambivalence was enormous. Huge. Rarely have I experienced a more 
profound ambivalence. My hatred arose primarily from my sense of 
betrayal. I felt that the NoVA LUG had betrayed me. I understand, of 
course, that none of you feel that you have betrayed me. I did not 
expect you to do so.

	Simply writing the above paragraph was emotionally difficult for me. It 
was painful, truly. But, to the extent that such writing was cathartic, 
it was also therapeutic. I have now purged a toxin from my psyche, and 
can move on.

	The second reason for my reluctance to unsubscribe is that, over the 
years, I have invested so much into the NoVA LUG. For me, writing that 
investment off was hard.

	I now realize that I made the mistake of thinking that the NoVA LUG's 
members were my friends and compatriots. I hope not to make such a 
mistake again. From now on, I shan't befriend anyone who does not share 
my political ideology, especially with respect to immigration. This sh1t 
is ridiculous. I have been unemployed for nearly 17 months, and I have 
had enough.

	One last thing, NoVA LUG. This is absolutely the LAST f_cking time that 
I shall say this, so read carefully, and commit these words to memory:

	Next year, 2010, about 30 million Americans shall wake up and realize 
that they will never work again. There is no way in hell that they will 
work again. When they realize this fact, ALL HELL SHALL BREAK LOOSE. 
Count on it.

	Furthermore, I do _not_ understand why this fact is not obvious to you 
people. It has been obvious to me for almost a year now. The cataclysm 
impends, and, by now, that ought to be obvious to all.

	The unemployment rate is _not_ 10%, as the government claims. It is 
already at least 22%. It is sky-high and still increasing. But those of 
you with SC's cannot see this fact. Because you have secure jobs.

	Well, that is all that I have to say to the NoVA LUG. I have nothing 
more to add. Good-bye.

Sincerely,
Paul Bain

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An expert on open source software (OSS) -- and still
unemployed after 17 months.
	
PaulBain at PObox.com
(703) 876-4778
	
http://www.linkedin.com/in/paulbain
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