28 Oct
1998
28 Oct
'98
4:08 a.m.
On Wed, 28 Oct 1998, Hans Franke wrote:
I still say it is a worthy experiment. I do not know if it can be
implemented at the listserver, but that is after all the point of
software, to implement a specific goal.
>> even
breaking the lists in two - on and off topic
>> so that ppl with common interests can also talk about other things (like
>> both lists would die though
I actually had a similar thought and it could
work. Is it
possible to create an off-topic mailing list that is not publicly
advertised and cannot be subscribed to unless one were already a
subscriber to the on-topic one? Those that want the on-topic list
could get that, those who want both would get both and no one could
subscribe to only the off-topic one. The unwritten rule is that no new
topic could be spontaneously generated on the off-topic one and the
only new threads allowable would be those banished from the on-topic list.
Of course threads would be allowed to meander and mutate once they were
released to the off-topic list. This is just a thought. It certainly
would allow for these brief hot torrents of opinion on semi off-topic
material to run their course without inconveniencing those who wish to
only see hardcore tech info. The off-topic list would be like a sidebar
only accessible to those who read the on-topic one.
Nice talk, but just think how hard it seams to be just to
change the Subject line at the right moment AND to get all
participants into changing it - not to mention the time delay.
This is just an international thing - when I get up and have
a first look at it Allison is still sleeping, Uncle Roger
(or the other US West Coast guys) are just about to find their
sleeping position, while Olminkhof is right about to leave
the office - I've seen these things from other lists and
news groups. It is just impossible. It is even impossible
to live such a policy within a worldwide collaboration tool
for a project. Even when corporate and special rules try
to enforce it.
And Moderation is just the dead of any list (maybe beside
a anouncement list for 0190 (1-900) services, where they
don't need any spontanous answer.
Agreed. The point is to provide the tool for self moderation. I have
reasonable confidence that members of this list could manage to make use
of such a tool to effectively move 90% of the semi off topic material
voluntarily so the main list could function normally.
The key is that List "B", the off topic one, cannot be subscribed to by
someone "off the street". It would only be available as an option to
those who sign on to List "A". That way everybody understands what their
responsibilty is. The current list continues to be public; the new list
becomes a private sidebar, signed on to by what will probably be a
subset of "A" (perhaps half?).
It seems to me this list will have periodic flareups of festering wounds
like West Coast abundance vs. East Coast drought, US insensitivity vs.
the rest of the world, Ebay users vs. Ebay haters (and some of us are
both!!) and ego conflict in general. Hoping this latest batch will
die down and go away and nothing will surface again is similar to the y2K
"ostrich" approach.
Plus the List "B" could also be used for other near off topic subjects.
Who knows what will come up?
I think it is at least worth a short term 2 or 3 month experiment.
-- Stephen Dauphin