Time Delay of Messages, my opinion
Jessica A. Ryan (ryanja@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU)
Wed, 30 Mar 1994 14:55:34 EST
Boy did I try hard to stay out of this one!! Hi guys. I really
didn't want to insert my two cents worth, because I thought that
eventually this idea would die down and go away, but recent postings
are starting to reflect that everyone else couldn't let it go away.
By this I mean, people are starting to cut their postings and not
restate the original questions and I'm either feeling there's more
information or I don't understand the thread of the question.
I help to co-administrate another list, a larger busier list than this
one, so I can appreciate Jon's dilemna when these kinds of requests
hit the list.
Jon, here's a little advice from one list owner to another on that
note--in your introductory letter, make the statement that you want
all signature files limited to 4 lines (or 5 or 6, whatever you feel
comfortable with) and list the reason you want them limited. Also,
make the statement that all suggestions, complaints, and ideas
concerning list administration be send to YOU directly and NOT to the
list, as you make ALL decisions concerning the rules--It's your list.
That would have stopped this before it started. And if you'd like to
see how we word our list, I'd be happy to send you a copy...In my
opinion, if they wanna make waves, let em ride with the flow or jump
ship...it's really not anyone's decision but yours!
Now, back to the issue at hand. I can sympathize with the problem
that the AOL subscribers face, but they need to realize that these
problems are ultimately going to occur because the system of AOL
wasn't really made for sending/receiving list type postings. Their
original attempt at email was to provide a system where online users
could send mail to each other ON THAT SYSTEM ONLY and they're
struggling to keep up. Heck, they're just now integrating 9600 baud
phone lines and the world is about to jump above 14.4! The only REAL
solution there is to work with them for change or get a REAL account.
I'm sorry, but that's the facts!
I have to admit I'm a little perturbed at Pat Skelly. I'll try to be
tactful here. I met you Pat online with the AOL forum you originated
on the topic of Scouting and I was so excited to have the opportunity
to meet each week at a preset time and exchange ideas and information
LIVE and online with other Scouters. Yes, I'm new, but I LOVE making
friends. Then, since it was YOUR list you decided to move the forum
to that disgusting KIDS section. Many sessions began being filled
with "Hi, I'm Bobby, I live in Tucson...do you live in Tucson? How's
the weather there. I'm a Cub Scout, are you a Cub Scout?" and very
little information got exchanged. I wrote to you about the problem
and you sent me some little message about "that's where AOL put us..."
so I left it at that...and adjusted. Then, you decided to set up
TOPICS for each week's discussion. Thus further limiting and clamming
up the list. I'm sorry, Pat, but how in the world can you talk for an
hour+ on software for Scouts...heck there's only a few programs and
once you talk about the names, features, and uses, what else can you
say, "I like the program, do you like the program?" PLEASE! I wrote
to you about that and you felt it would be better to have preset
topics...so I tried to keep attending, but that took every bit of
interest and fun out of the list. Every time someone would ask a
question, whether slightly related or not on the currect topic, they
would be firmly reminded "that's NOT tonight's topic"...it became so
dry and annoying, I thought why waste my time. I haven't been back
since...Some topics just naturally create questions in other areas,
and to be told you can't discuss them, well it's annoying, inhibiting,
and downright silly. So I relied on Scouts-L for lively discussion.
Although it isn't live like the forum on AOL, there is ALWAYS spirited
discussion and a variety of topics and responces/opinions are always
welcomed. Darn if you didn't show up here and now are trying to
"inhibit" things here too! GEEZO!
In my opinion, in cases where questions are complex, a little
restating or quoting is necessary. And it's usually the longer
postings which give the most information, or at least a COMPLETE look
at the issue. Now I can agree with any of you (and probably fuss
about this more than you do), that man of mine can be QUITE
long-winded...no one knows more than I do how he can go on...I live
with him for crying out loud. But boy when I need information on a
Scouting issue, I look to his answers...and those of Dr. Steve, Steve
Sousa, Chris Haggerty, Fred Rogers...etc...and sometimes they do go on
and on if the issue calls for it.
Bottom line, I think it's horrible to think about sensoring the list!
If you cut out the small amount of chit-chat and the sometimes
lond-winded responses, you'll cut into the character of what makes
this list so special. If you could only view some of the lists I'm
involved with, you'd die at REAL chit-chat...believe me, in
comparison, we've got it GOOD here. With few exceptions, we manage to
stay "on-task" or on topic and to get things resolved here.
Jon, please don't think about changing the character of this list. Or
like I did with AOL, I'll just have to rely on Mike's and my own
opinions, and drop out of Scouts-L. I'd dearly miss the discussions,
ideas, and tales here. I use much of what I see here in the
classroom. You all are wonderful sources of information for me.
Well, there's my two cents worth...maybe it will reach a nickel with
inflation...
Jon, let me know if you would like to see the EAT-L Bulletin.
Jessica
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