I am a registered user of the KDE discussion groups. I was very disappointed by the latest version of Amarok to not include Shoutcast groups in their functionality. After researching why this was the case and reading posts by Amarok developers in the various Amarok forums and website, it was stated by Amarok developers that there were LEGAL REASONS for the decision to not include SC stations in the functionality of the software. I opened up an email discussion with an official at AOL to find out what had changed from their end that forced Amarok developers to, for purported legal reasons, exclude SC station listings from Amarok. After a few email exchanges, the contact at AOL informed me that the reasons I referenced to him on the Amarok site were basically incorrect, as the Amarok developers seemed to have either entirely misread the new AOL user ToS and the Developer/API ToS. I tried to pass this information onto the Amarok developers via IRC #Amarok and also via the forum http://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=116&t=83718. I documented the last email I received from the AOL exec with whom I had the email interchange. For some reason, Mamarok the moderator got very shirty (to be kind) with me and wanted me to send this info to amarok@kde.org. She went on to accuse me of posting hearsay, which is a blatant misrepresentation of the truth. Then, with the audacity that would make an internet PRC government agent blush, she shut down the forum...so much for the democracy of the internet as far as this forum is concerned. It seems only happy news is tolerated on this forum. What is wrong with these people? Why can't I get a straight-forward answer to an entirely legitimate question? Why were misleading accusations made regarding the decision to not include SC stations in Amarok?

I know this is a bit of a "flame", but the treatment by this moderator and the apparent misrepresentation by the Amarok group has insulted me. I'm not sure why this person is a moderator. I'm in the IT business and have only recently been using Linux and KDE because I assumed Open Source meant a more open approach to users and their requirements. However, it appears that a page has been taken from Redmond's and Cupertino's play-books and the same arrogance displayed in those places pervades the Amaork development group, if Mamarok is representative of the attitude towards users like myself. Why won't Amarok and Mamarok et al be forthcoming?

And again, you are posting in the wrong place...
There is nothing about a blatant reaction. You were told to sent it to the amarok mailing list. Why? This is where the amarok developers read very closely. The developers are not that prominent on a user support channel like this forum.
You basically want to have a reaction from the developers, maybe even get something worked out. So please just do it the way suggested to you.
I fully trust in Mamarok's work here as Moderator and the same for the various other channels she helps out.
What you are trying here is just putting user emotions onto the topic. And this is just not the way to go. So closing the mentioned topic absolutely makes sense to me.
The developers decided on that. It is their time freely going into this project.

So, do it like suggested without complaining about persons or project decisions in a constructive manner in the right place might get you further than what you do right now.

Well, I disagree with you and your assertions. I am not trying to put any emotion whatsoever into the discussion, and I have no control over the emotional or any other response of Mamarok or anyone else, for that matter. I did the legwork with AOL and provided objective facts in a user forum; why can't the moderator or an interested developer go to the forum and copy/paste the URL and info and post it wherever they want? In an objective way, I am challenging assertions made by the development group based on information they provided and the information I gathered from a source directly at AOL. I understand that the developers provide their time freely; but they should listen to their user-base and not misrepresent the truth, or is this the price we must pay for open source software? In any event, I am not going to waste my time with this obviously fruitless discussion; it appears facts only confuse KDE representatives and Amarok developers. I have uninstalled Amarok as there are plenty of other options and am seriously considering removing the rest of KDE from my computers, as IMO clearly this is not a very serious endeavour if the responses I have received from #amarok, Mamarok, and you are any indication of the quality of user support present within this community. I'm very disappointed with the insulting treatment I've received by the KDE community thus far.

Unfortunately you are making some missassumptions here. There is no insult in any way done. You are just asked to forward this to the amarok mailinglist, nothing more.
The shoutcast issue was already discussed in various places, and i am pretty sure there are valid reasons for dropping support of it.
But again, if there are possible missinterpretations, then the best place to discuss it is with the devs directly (mailinglist).
Developers are just not around at this forum, you basically will reach supporters of amarok and kde.
And as i read, you were told to use the mailinglist to help you keep up this topic. Why did you then use this support forum? (Note, i didn't see the original discussion on the irc channel)

Honestly, if i would be interested in this feature, i would just do like suggested and not forcing it in the wrong place. That's just all about it. No insult on any side.
Sorry, if that seems like insulting treatment for you, but there is clearly no intendation for that.

I used the forum for the reason that you state it is for: user support. Maybe something is lost in the translation of what user support is supposed to be, but I guess even after nearly 30 years in the IT business I still have lots to learn. I assumed that the forum was to provide visibility to an issue that interested other users as well and to get a constructive dialog established to try to get this feature reinstated in Amarok. I will send the info to amarok@kde.org.

To quote Johnny from the Fantastic Four, "Flame Out"!!

Have a good day.

You are right. giving visibility to an issue is okay here. Sometimes it even might happen you reach the developers directly here. But this is seldom. We mostly just support users with problems they encounter or guide them to the right places.
Afterall, this is about users help users.

Anyway, if you sent it now, the right direction is found.

neverendingo wrote:And again, you are posting in the wrong place...There is nothing about a blatant reaction. You were told to sent it to the amarok mailing list. Why? This is where the amarok developers read very closely. The developers are not that prominent on a user support channel like this forum.

The amarok developers where there, the were posting in topics above and below the mentioned thread, yet somehow failed to notice it?

@ethereal99, please see your pm

Yes, exactly what i meant. They are partly around, but no guarantee they read all of the posts.