<html> <body> Dear Keith and all- To let the recent ruffled feathers fade into the archives un-addressed would be a disservice to us all.  While I did not entirely understand some of your initial distress, expressed in "setting the record straight (was Re: words technical w/piano question" on 1/30), I am equally confused by your current clarity of vision.  In fact, looking over this exchange, which was begun, innocently enough by Don (The Spark) McKechnie  (Words...don't FAIL me now!)  I would say you were correct to take some umbrage at David Ilvedson's remarks <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 12:34:38 -0800 From: David Ilvedson <ilvey@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: words fail me...... Has everyone left Pianotech and moved to CAUT?  I certainly hope not.  David I.</blockquote> and <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 16:29:13 -0800 From: David Ilvedson <ilvey@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: words fail me...... Apparently I didn't get across what I was trying to say...lets not make the CAUT List into a Pianotech List with all the OT crap.  David I.</blockquote> In the first, the exact nature of David I's concerns are not clear to me.  What suddenly raised the specter of a mass migration from Pianotech?   In the second, it is hard to put a positive spin on "all the OT crap".   What, or whose comments suddenly inspired this statement? In fact, while I think it commendable to take the initiative in turning down the heat, I cannot agree with you that the lines defining what this list is about, who it's for, or what it is meant to be, are at all clear, nor do I think that the solutions to the underlying issues are simple. CAUT is an open list, meaning its membership is not restricted to CAUTs.  So, what defines it as CAUT?  The credentials of its participants, or the content of discussion?   The majority of us on this list are significant participants on Pianotech, as well, yet, in looking at the threads, or subject headings in the archives,  I see no consistent defining criteria for what has been posted here, as opposed to there.  So, what's up?  Do any of you dress differently, or change writing style, or sit in a different chair when posting to one list or the other?  I doubt it. I do not doubt that the "noise" and crowding that have come to characterize Pianotech have, and will continue to make themselves a factor on this list as well. We are responding and reacting to a fundamental quality of our time...an overload of information. If a moratorium were placed upon further posting to these lists, the wealth of information already residing in the archives could keep us occupied for years.  Our shared frustration is in our need to find a way to filter and organize the information that is at our disposal.  As Keith points out, however, these lists are more than compilations of data.  They represent a community.  As such, we revel in or endure each others unique humanity.  It's just that it's a lot easier to assess what is OT regarding data than it is when expressing that humanity. The CAUT list is un-moderated, thus we have only ourselves to define the tone and focus of the discussion.  RicB was only doing what each of us has to do in our capacity as self-moderators, though his comments may have sounded a bit arrogant.  I'm sure that's only his writing style.  The question is, how do you go about changing something that you feel may not be working?  How do you introduce elements of structure and order into an environment that didn't begin, nor evolve with it?  I have some suggestions.  - Imagine you (all of you'se) are the list moderator.  Go back into the last few months' archives and determine how many of the messages were addressing issues specific to institutional technicians.  How many of them would have warranted at least cross posting to Pianotech list?  (I'm aware of the downside of cross posting).  The question then becomes, what would be an appropriate venue for these culled posts?  Maybe we need a separate list for the personal exchanges. - As someone else recently suggested, look at your own contributions and consider the signal/noise quotient.  - Observe the carelessness with which we abuse subject headings.  As with newspaper headings, if we could better determine the content of a posting by its subject, a considerable time waster would be eliminated. Just look at the recent/current "words fail..." thread, for example.  This would also make navigating the archives easier. - Take back the list!  If you think Pianotech is floundering, fix it, don't walk away from it. Most respectfully - David Skolnik At 01:57 PM 1/31/2003, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Dear CAUT members, I am continually amazed at the things I learn about myself from this list and its members, all the way back to its beginnings and the dear departed colleagues, Jack Reeves, Danny Boone and Newton Hunt. The lines became temporarily blurred for me with regards to what this list is all about, to who this list is really for and for what this list is meant to be. Thank you for bearing with me. The lines are clear once again. Sincerely, Keith Keith McGavern, RPT Oklahoma Baptist University Saint Gregory's University Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA PS: Can someone update the current status of Mark E. Clark, Dartsmouth University/College Mark Story, Eastern Washington University _______________________________________________ caut list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives" eudora="autourl">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a></blockquote></body> </html>