OT Threads

[Alan Dayley]

On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 5:57 PM, Bryan O'Neal <boneal at cornerstonehome.com> wrote:
> Same here. I also filter out topical subjects I have little to no interest
> in.

The problem with filters is they are not newbie friendly.

One of the goals of this group (I think) is to spread Linux use into
"non-geek" computer neophytes.  People who just use computers without
wanting or caring to know how they work.  Making filters in Outlook
Express or whatever is not really that hard.  But, I can tell you from
experience, some doctors, lawyers, executives and stay-at-home parents
simply will not spend the little brain power it takes to understand a
filter.

For example, I have been managing a high school band web site and
email list for six years now.  Average people are just now becoming
commonly aware of what is an email list.  Email lists have been around
for decades but the "average Joe or Joan" only recently understands
them.  Email filters are the same way.  It would be hard to teach that
audience of reasonably intelligent people how to make an filter,
mostly because they won't want to learn it.

So, aside from discussions about how I don't want to wade through
off-topic posts, we have to consider the new users we want to attract.
 If they sign up to the list expecting to learn about Linux and find a
significant portion of the emails to not be about Linux, they will not
stick around very long.  And the very new to email lists will not know
what "OT:" in the subject line means either.

Some OT is good, expected and even preferred to help the social side
of the group.  But it should be unusual.  Just my opinion.

Alan