Sarathy posts a patch to fix a bug that most people didn't know existed. Jarkko forwards bug reports for five obscure platforms. Someone suggests one of them is an overflow problem in the integer arithmetic. Jarkko posts an analysis of the code in question and observes where it might generate an overflow if the hardware in question didn't behave like every other machine in existence. Someone suggests a configure test, and Jarkko submits a patch.
Nobody remembers the other four bug reports, and discussion peters out.
Sarathy posts a patch to fix a bug that most people didn't know existed. A feature request turns into a discussion on style, which is referred to the advocacy list. The advocacy list refers it to comp.lang.perl.misc, where a virulent debate rages for a week. No conclusion is reached, and a bitter schism is formed between two active newsgroup posters. Discussion has petered out but the bitterness lingers.