Re: having fun but... lets get SOME rules
- To: <pumpkins@mallorn.com>
- Subject: Re: having fun but... lets get SOME rules
- From: "* S* <m*@beaconmortgage.com>
- Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 11:56:37 -0800
>First of all, I would like to address everybody on the list who can walk
>and chew gum at the same time (or, as the case may be, talk pumpkins and
>have fun at the same time)
OK, because some might take these comments that I am sure were intended as
humor as a flame, IMHO it is time to at least agree on some rules here. I
think if we can just agree on the rules about how we are going to disagree
then it won't be so disagreeable to those on either side of the agree or
disagree issue because we will have already agreed on the format of the
disagreeing, don't you agree. (Huh!)
I too like reading about swan neck hoes, rototillers etc but after a tine,
ah, time I get bored with the thread and WOULD hit the delete button before
reading more where it not for one thing. This list, more than any other, has
too many people who can't stay on the subject of the message and put
something about, say, their special germination method in a message that has
a subject of, say, swan neck hoes. I want to know about that special
germination method but I don't want to have to read 20 unrelated messages to
find it. This lack of staying on subject makes archive searching a REAL
chore.
This is a mail list and not a chat list. While some "chat" is OK mail lists
have rules and one is if the subject says "swan neck hoes" then it better
not have anything to do with "irrigation". Also this is a pumpkin list so
while I may have an interest in your 49 Ford truck (mine has 52,000 actual
miles <g>), the only mention of it should have to do with how you used it to
take your PUMPKIN to a weigh off and not about your mileage. (Opps) Some
Chat threads I want to follow, others I don't. Using proper "Subject:"
headings makes following a thread MUCH easier. Joe Mills, for example, does
a very good job of this. He posts many messages, each with a clear subject,
which makes reading or not reading choices very easy. (Thanks Joe.)
I belong to several other lists (all "growing" related), I even run a list,
and I will say that I am seeing the same kind of tension on ALL of these
lists. Clearly the blame belongs to, dare I say it, "El you-know-who". We
all want to get out into the garden so bad. These hints of warm weather,
that we all know are nothing more than teases, and hard to deal with.
The other rule "violation" is quoting all of every previous message.
Maybe the following from another list owner that arrived just today says all
of this best.
" And just so my pet peeve doesn't get neglected here, _do_ please remember
to not quote entire posts; edit out everything not relevant to your reply.
I won't unsubscribe anyone for it, but I will grumble more and more as my
disk space vanishes...as it is, about 1/3 of the archives are useless
duplication..."
(Duncan?)
Lastly, the surprise attachment. Again the other list owner's comments fit
here.
"Because majordomo can't autoreject attachments, you are going to have to be
careful about your mail settings. Attachments and formatting information
are forbidden outright. Majordomo doesn't let me autobounce them, so they
will go through. Thrice per account. The first time I'll send a warning
and try to help figure out how to turn them off in your mailer, the second
time I'll send a reminder, the third time I'll have to unsubscribe the
account. Attachments and formatting commands (such as the html code that
netscrape and microsoft mail programs often send) of any sort make a mess
in the digests and archives, and make searching the archives more
difficult; I simply don't have the time to go in and clean things up by
hand. Attachments can also cause other subscribers' mailboxes to overflow,
which can cause them to be unsubscribed from all of their mailing lists
causing much anxiety and frustration. So now is a good time to check your
email program settings and make sure that you're sending pure ascii (plain)
text. I'm not the only list owner to start cracking down on this; not
sticking to the lowest common denominator causes problems for many people,
and makes all list owners cranky. If you have a picture, or information
that absolutely must be formatted to make sense, put it an a web site and
send a pointer. If you don't have a web site, ask me and I'll see if I can
help find it a home. Or announce it's availablility and send send copies
to those who request it via private email."
I think these third party quotes parrot many issues we see on this list.
With just a little bit of structure I think this list will be better able to
deal with all the various personalities that exist here. The more who join,
the more we need a little structure.
As always, just IMHO. OK, at least IMO :-)
Mike in Oregon
(Sorry all for the long post but I feel MUCH better now.)
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