Hi, Here here Pam. Otto -----Original Message----- From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of PAMELA RADER Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 2:36 PM To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bookport] Re: Topics on BookPort forum Jim and fellow listers: The original intent of this list was created for the Beta testers to give their feedback to the developers, so they could make the necessary changes and so on. Normally, these lists are closed to the public and probably, if we had it to do over, things would have been done differently. Over time, this list has been opened up to the general public and while I wasn't the one in control at that time, we allowed this to continue. For this reason, and because I believe in helping people whenever and wherever possible, for now, the list will continue. I have a lot of APH lists I'm on and I have to read and taking phone calls, I don't have time for that nonsense that has been allowed. If you really want to discuss it, or if you're hellbent on tearing each other down and there is not a McDonalds nearby to solve your meet-eating cravings, please take your business offlist. I think most of you know how to do that. If not, it'll be a good learning experience for you. While you are certainly entitled to your opinion, and while no one is taking that away from you, as the moderator of this list, I have given this a great deal of thought and this is what I've come up with. I'd just like to say that it's not open for debate. I'm not taking suggestions on list ettiquette. I'm perfectly aware of how other lists behave, as I am on several myself, as many of you also are. Therefore, I have been able to see what happens when the moderator steps in and puts a stop to things in the beginning and I have learnedit's okay to do that. From now on, what I say goes. I will no longer tollerate the habits and behaviors of the past. You'll get one (1) warning. After that, you will be taken off the list. That goes for abusing each other or making useless comments, or topic shifts. That's it. All of this, coupled with this morning's discovery of an issue with the latest Beta (that only one lister bothered to report), I have been very upset and furio us about all of this. You all can find the time to pick on one another, but didn't bother to notice that there was a problem with the last Beta we put out (the very thing we needed to know and could have used). I'm sorry if it seems I am short fused, but I've had it! I have one request and that is that we all try to get along and let's not feel that we have the need to respond to each and every email message that comes along. This creates unnecessary trafic and only adds to the clutter(okay, that's 2 requests). With regard to subject lines, we're gonna be good and change them to reflect the topic and not continue long threads, whose topic shifts as the thread unravels. From now on, start a new message, if it's a new subject. I asked this last week, and some of you have been good about that and I trust that you will continue to do so. Yesterday, I was ready to take the whole thing down. Luckily, I was able to sleep on it. While I didn't start this mess, I am now responsible, so we're gonna shape up or ship out! This is not a threat--it is a promise. I appologize to those of you who haven't been guilty of this and have had to suffer the consequences. I'd like to see this list do some good as we know it can. Thanking all of you in advance for your kindness and cooperation, Pamela (list moderator) Pamela Rader, TECHNICAL SUPPORT American Printing House For The Blind 1839 Frankfort Ave. Louisville, KY 40206 PHONE: 1-800-223-1839, Ext. 307 >>> jnuttallphd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 10/03/07 01:34PM >>> I would like to express my opinion about topics on the BP forum. I find generally that topics are about reading materials on the BP, about possible improvements to the BP, and some technical questions about the BP. The topics do stray a bit. But I feel this is a reflection that the community that has BPs is looking for a forum in which to discuss ideas and how the BP affects their lives. I would not like to see the forum to get so restrictive that people cannot offer details about their lives and how reading with the BP affects them. So, I would suggest that topics be relevant to the BP, but not be so restrictive that people no longer enjoy any give and take about BP issues. Jim Nuttall--Michigan