OT: Reply Text, Archives, Signing, Zones, Etc.

John Jones said:

<<  I did not mean to imply that a question should not be asked, and I
apologize
 to anyone who thought that I did, I just meant to encourage folks to use the
 archives for additional information. This list lives because we all welcome
questions.>>

I would like to express my support for this open reiteration of those basic
conventions that have been developed over the life of this list to make the
dialog flow more easily, to facilitate use of the archives, and to ensure that
people can derive the best possible personal benefit from the list as defined
by their own level of interest. This is a fine list--superb in comparison to
some others of which I am aware-- and we have managed to find solutions that
work to persistant problems  I encourage people to bear them in mind.

Tom's subject headers are a fine thing and their use is of benefit to all. It
takes only a minute to attach one to your post. Without the correct one
persons who may be able to contribute information may miss your question, or
your answer. The volume of posts is considerable and not eveyone chooses to
scan each. Very few posts do not fall into one of the specified categories.
Keeping things tidy is to be desired. Changing the subject line to reflect
change of subject is only reasonable. Notice the OT headers. Not everyone is
interested in OT posts and it is appropriate to identify these so they can
skip them. Note also that the OT headers follow several types, acknowledging
the list's intermittant interest in plants of other genera and so forth. 

Also, I concurr that it is important to include some of the post to which you
are replying or on which you are commenting.  If you cannot edit it enough to
provide context, briefly state the issue. Comments that float in --often after
the fact--and give no sense of the issue do not further the collective
comprehension much. Not everyone gets the posts in the same sequence and
confusion results when answers preceed questions with no indication of their
context. I might add that if you have been away from the list for a bit it may
be a good idea to pop to the archives to see if the question you are proposing
to comment on has already received adequate treatment.

The archives are the most remarkable compendium of current anecdotal
information and information from the literature imaginable. There is a fine
search engine and a wealth of knowledge awaits those who visit. Now, we always
welcome all questions here, feeling that new information may emerge at any
minute, but there is less inclination to give topics exhaustive treatment when
they have already been beaten to death several times in the past. This is
simply human nature. Writing up posts takes time and we all hae a finite
amount of it. There is, therefore, a tendency to help those most who will help
themselves some.

Another convention that we have established is that people are encouraged to
sign their posts, and include their geographical location, including their
Zone if it seems relevant, an their e-mail address. A certain measure of
formality here has served us well, providing information that is essential to
the dialog or question in many cases, and useful information for the search
engine at the archives to employ.

In passing I might add that from time to time we hear  voices pop up with the
complaint that the posts are not what they used to be, or are not to their
personal liking, or are deficient in some other way. I am aways tempted to
respond that people are not obliged to post at all, that they do so because
they are trying to communicate,  and a consumer complaint, as it were, falls
on deaf ears on my end if it comes from somone who rarely contributes anything
else to the discussion. I'm saying this now because it cannot be seen as a
pointed or personalized remark at this juncture, and I have felt that it has
needed saying for some time.

So these are some things I personally hope will borne in bear in mind.  This
is only my opinion. Everyone is, of course, free to do what they please within
Tom's stated rules. But this list moves quickly in season, and the flow of
information can be brisk. Moving with the flow and helping it move along will
probably pay off in the long run.

Anner Whitehead, Richmond, VA--not including my Zone this time because there
is no cultural information included in this post and none sought
Henry Hall---my husband, often present in body, always in spirit
Henryanner@aol.com------Because not everyone's e-mail program gives them this
info automatically.
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