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ADMIN: list content

Over the past two weeks I feel as if the quality of messages passing
through this list is significantly decreasing.  I'm receiving
many complaints regarding off-topic postings, as well as numerous
unsubscriptions which I can only attribute to list content as well.

When the list first started out I sent out some groundrules that should
be followed (which I've included here).  In this message, I also said that
anyone who repeatedly broke the rules after a warning would be dismissed
from the list.  We're getting very near that point for some of our
subscribers.  I don't want to forcibly remove anyone from this list, but
if the removal of one individual means that a dozen others remain
productive and happy here, then the individual must leave.

I know I sound like an ogre, and I'm really not.  But we really need to
address these issues before the list degenerates any further.

Think of it as polluting the Internet.  You wander around sending 
overly-long, uninformative or unrelated messages to everyone.  It's 
clogging up our bandwidth, filling up our disks, and making people
generally unhappy.  Sounds almost like purple loosestrife turned
electronic, doesn't it?

Some additional guidelines not fully addressed in the original message:

   o Purpose of list

      This list is for the discussion of perennial plants, generally
      herbaceous in nature or commonly found with herbaceous perennials
      (i.e.  Russian sage could count as a perennial).  Questions about
      woody plants such as trees, shrubs, and many vines should be sent
      to the woodyplants list.

   o Including messages

      If you send a message reply, only lines from the original message
      that are relevant to the subject at hand should be copied.  Don't
      quote an entire message to only add a line or two at the end.

   o Help with administrative stuff

      Send any questions/problems/whatever that are administrative in
      nature to me, lindsey@mallorn.com  The other 300 subscribers to
      this list probably don't want to hear about these, especially
      since they're non-perennial in nature.

I hope you all have fun, and thanks for your time.

Chris

---- ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW ------------------------------------------

   o Keeping on topic

        Probably the most important thing to do here is stay on topic
        regarding perennials.  I understand that it's a broad subject,
        and perhaps we should try creating our own definition to limit
        its scope.

        The definition as it stands pertains to non-woody ornamental
        plants used in a landscape setting.

        Non-related items should be sent to the appropriate list -- I 
        will be sending out information about horticultural mailing
        lists in a following message.  Messages about hydrangeas should
        go to the woody plant list, medicinal herbs to one of the
        herb lists, etc.

        Transgressors will be given a warning, and if the deviations
        continue they will be removed from the mailing list.  It sounds
        harsh, but the rules won't be too hard to follow.  I promise.  :)

   o Responding to the originator vs. the entire list

        Please be careful when replying to messages, particularly when
        the reply is of interest to nobody else but the originator.
        Remember that every message sent to the list goes to all 228
        people, even if it's a private conversation.  LOOK AT THE MESSAGE
        HEADERS TO FIND OUT WHO SENT THE MESSAGE, THEN SEND IT TO THAT
        ADDRESS if your response falls into this category.

   o Me toos

        If someone requests information, sending a note saying 'me too'
        just clutters up everyone else's mailboxes.  There are a number
        of solutions:

           1. Send mail to the original poster and ask for a summary of
              responses
           2. Expect that any responses will be sent to the list, and if
              not the originator will send a summary to the list (as 
              courtesy dictates)

   o Subject lines

        Please keep informative, descriptive subject lines in your
        messages.

As a reminder, the archives for the list are available at

   http://www.mallorn.com/lists/perennials/

and an interface to search these archives is at

   http://www.mallorn.com/lists/perennials/search.cgi
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