OT stuff, archives

[Andrew Rudoff]

>     Is there still a monitor / screener / editor -type person for the
> archives?

When I converted the list to the new server a few years back I wrote
a program to flag help me refine the existing archives and I removed
hundreds of SPAM and erroneous posts from them.  But it was very
labor intensive.  I spent a couple days on it, checking whether the
program had made the right decision in each case.

These days the archives are much larger and the list software is much
better about keeping out SPAM and virus posts.  The fact that posting
is restricted to list members is responsible for filtering out a large
amount of junk.  OT posts are the big exception.

The list FAQ says "Anyone can post anything. But each list does have
its intended purpose and everyone will be happiest if we all try to
stick to topics appropriate for each list."

We say that because editing the lists is a huge job and would require
someone who reads the lists in a timely fashion (several times a day)
and has a thick skin.  Most of us are too busy to commit to that.  Editing
the archives after the fact is less time sensitive, but still a big job.

Lately it seems that adding "OT" is an excuse to post anything.  I feel
this has really lowered the quality of the list content.  Yes, it *all*
goes into the archives so when someone (including one of us) comes to
search the archives of the piano experts, they get the off-topic stuff
as well.  That's a big shame in my opinion.  The occasional off-topic
post will always happen but there are literally thousands of lists
available on the Internet for every topic imaginable -- posting to
the appropriate list will make everyone happier, will reach the people
who want to read the post, and will not clutter our archives.

I'm on several lists for the several topics I'm interested in.  When I see
a post on pianotech that is off-topic, I'm either not interested in it
or it is on a topic and I've already seen on other lists.  Sure, I delete
the post and wish I had just spent the last few seconds reading something
interesting about pianos.  But it goes into our archives just the same.

-andy