[bksvol-discuss] Message/List Control
- From: "Donna Smith" <donnafsmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:06:54 -0500
Well, it seems that it is that time again when the list gets way out of
control with over a hundred messages a day. You can tell because some
faithful member who is just trying to keep up, posts something like "When
are you scanning?" in an attempt to slow it all down. When other equally
faithful list members don't recognize such a message as a plea for judicious
use of list space, then it's time to get specific.
I actually saved my last very specific message on this topic with the intent
of just reposting it as needed as this issue comes around as regularly as
tax season, but it was pretty bitchy, so I thought I'd write another one
instead. <smile>
Here are the important points:
* We're all volunteers who are very dedicated and most of us have
other life interests (e.g., jobs, families, pets, commitments in the
community, etc.)
* We all enjoy the comradery of the list and being able to exchange
information.
* When the volume of message gets high enough to make someone cry
"uncle," it is no longer an exchange of information but an unruly dump of
messages that most of us can't possibly read through.
* Two reactions begin to occur: A. Faithful volunteers choose to
unsubscribe, thus denying the rest their valuable input; or B. Faithful
volunteers delete everything with a list subject line just to find personal
messages even though this creates concern that we may be missing something
of importance.
The solution?
A little self restraint! Please take personal messages off list, and keep
the OT messages down to a minimum. In fact, during such a time when list
traffic is high, it would be prudent to not post OT messages at all.
It's all about balance and respecting the time of others. We all do it and
we all get lax about doing it and then we get a reminder to be mindful again
and we do it. We're really a pretty respectful group.
So what do you say? Can we cut back the list flow and find that happy
medium again?
Donna S
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