Proposal: new "plug-offtopic" email list

[Joshua Zeidner]

On 2/13/08, Alan Dayley <alandd at consultpros.com> wrote:
> Alan Dayley wrote:
> > First, please do not take this as a rebuke of anyone.  I follow and even
> > contribute to may of the off topic discussions in the list.  I just
> > think we should give them their own home.
> >
> > Second, I think the social "non-Linux" aspects of the group are
> > important.  I know I learn to respect other PLUGgers during Linux
> > discussions and wish to tap into their knowledge and friendship for
> > other topics from time to time.  I certainly don't want to cut off the
> > social side of the group.  It's important.
> >
> > I propose that we create another email list.  It would be called
> > "plug-offtopic" and would be the place for everything not Linux/FS/OSS
> > related.  Things in the news, politics not directly related to our
> > focus, car problems, whatever could be in that list.  That will maintain
> > plug-discuss for Linux/FS/OSS discussions and those of us that want to
> > talk tin-foil hats and political blow-hards can track the new list.
> >
> > I am but one vote making a motion.  Any seconds?
>
> Reading through this thread again and based on a similar discussion in
> the PLUG Steering Committee, I am concluding that we will NOT create a
> separate email list for off-topic discussions.  Reasons that weakened my
> own resolve to push the idea are:
>
> - No clear majority of respondents desiring the change.
> - Some like the OT discussions.
> - An argument was made in the Steering Committee that, based on
> experience, some OT discussions are good for injecting renewed activity
> on a list.  The result of strict topic compliance is sometimes the death
> of the list.
> - This list is really not a high-volume email source compared to many
> and so OT is not a big problem to ignore.
> - The list is pretty good about self policing already so no reason to
> fix what really isn't broken.
>
> I'd like to point out, however, that two important and long-time
> contributors to this list have announced their unsubscription due to
> recent OT increases.  While some may or may not see that as a problem
> since people come and go all the time, we as a group need to be
> cognizant of doing our part to maintain the community we enjoy.  Please
> self-moderate your posts to add value to our group and support the
> purposes of the group: Linux and FS/OSS use.
>
> Thanks for the discussion.
>
> Alan
>
>

  I think the argument stands on the fact that if no one liked the
'OT' posts, then they wouldnt respond and it wouldn't be a problem for
anyone.

  Secondly what is On Topic?  Asking specific technical questions is
far more productive on lists that specialize in the particular
platfrom in question.  What regional LUG lists tend to cover are
issues of politics, business, economics, etc... not specific technical
issues.  Ultimately, creating an OT list NEVER works.  If you want to
keep the S2N ratio down, you have to start to moderate.

  A more effective option is have an unmoderated and moderated list.

  -jmz