[ruby-core:41691] Ruby IRC Presence Problem

Hi,

As some of you may remember, Ruby's IRC situation is slightly =
problematic, but recent developments offer a slightly simpler way of =
resolving the situation.

TL;DR: Matz or a designated representative should assert rights over the =
#ruby channel.


The Problem
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I've tried to condense as much as possible. Please ask if anything's =
unclear.

As designated on http://ruby-lang.org/en/community/, the official =
channel is #ruby-lang on Freenode.=20

Unfortunately around the same time, a channel named #ruby was also =
created, and it was/is run mostly by people who had gotten banned from =
#ruby-lang.

Many new people will automatically go to #ruby, assuming that it is the =
correct place. This was not a problem until 2008 or so because #ruby was =
gracious enough to use their /topic to redirect people to #ruby-lang. At =
some point, however, #ruby removed the redirect and used other =
questionable means to retain people on their channel (such as telling =
people that #ruby-lang was for language internals discussion).

The current situation is that both channels have some 300 unique users. =
I personally find this quite vexing, as it leads to unnecessary =
fragmentation and duplication of information. I do not have anything =
against there being two Ruby channels, just that the separation is =
artificial and based on false premises.

Freenode's policy is that only official channels may use the single hash =
namespace, but #ruby cannot be reassigned to ##ruby (for example) =
without authorization because it's been around for some time.


Solutions
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There are three possible solutions:

1. Do nothing, and let the fragmentation continue.

2. Designate #ruby as the official channel (incl. on ruby-lang.org), and =
have everyone move there by default. The problem is that the channel =
ownership is lost, and in hands of a questionable history.

3. Assert rights on the #ruby namespace. This allows the unofficial =
#ruby channel to be renamed ##ruby, and then either the name #ruby can =
be redirected to #ruby-lang, or #ruby-lang can be renamed.

Fortunately Freenode has made obtaining the rights a bit easier than it =
was previously[1]. It can be done by filling out the group registration =
form[2], either by Matz or a designated representative (perhaps for =
example David A. Black or Eric Hodel, who are the registrants for =
#ruby-lang?).

[1] http://freenode.net/group_registration.shtml
[2] http://freenode.net/group_registration_form.php=20


I'd very much like to get opinions on the matter. Thanks!