LIST: Something constructive

[Ron Nossaman]

>
>Delete doesn't work very well either people don't usually put provide us
>with clues in the subject line that their post is not intended to be of
>general interest.  However, it would work a lot better if this list used
>a subject filter on every post.  The list of subjects might include:
>
>FIELD:  
>SHOP: 
>DESIGN:
>BUSINESS:
>RESOURCES:
>SOCIAL:
>LIST: 
>(any other topic suggestions ?)
>
>When this conversion takes place, each list member will decide how many
>of the topics he wishes to subscribe to.  ALL will send you
>everything.   Anyone who persistently posts under the wrong heading will
>be unsubscribed.  Any post that does not have one of the headings will
>be automatically filtered out by the software.  I understand this is
>easy to set up.  A list of topics, along with brief, specific netiquette
>reminders, could be included as part of each post as a header or
>footer.   
>
>Even if you are inclined to subscribe to ALL, please, out of
>consideration for the hundreds of other technicians on the list, give us
>the option of chosing what we want to read.
>
>I'm on another list that has recently instituted everything I'm
>suggesting.  It's a breath of fresh air.  Just trying to be
>constructive.
>
>
>Carl


You wouldn't be from a Military, or Government background, would you?
Personally, I've found interesting suggestions in postings that others might
consider mindless tripe, and mindless tripe in posts that others found
VASTLY interesting. I've also posted my own share of mindless trip, by some
standards, and will do so (possibly HAVE done so) again. I skimmed and
deleted over thirty messages this morning in less time than it is taking me
to write this. Granted, that could have more to do with my lack of typing
skills than my In-Box organizational abilities, but it just ain't that big a
deal. It's just not worth it to me to get all worked up about it. More than
once, I've felt like a participant in a Thorazine users' support group on
this List, but that's just the way it is among humans. If everyone did
everything to my liking, I would probably discover pretty quickly that life
was not only not very entertaining, but not very informative or thought
provoking either. The best tripe input filter and pre-processor at your
disposal is the one between your ears. Read what you like, and delete what
you find offensive, but please don't try to filter the process through a set
of inflexible rules to save us from having to think for ourselves. Not every
thought or thread can be so neatly boxed. 

BTW, Yes, I did find some useful and informative comments in the morning's
messages. No, not from the individual in question, but they are all in the
trash now, and indistinguishable from one another. I'd also like to point
out again that these kinds of postings (including this reply) are also
non-technical and wasteful of both bandwidth, and the time of those who are
here to learn something. Thanks for listening. 

Regards, 
 Ron