OT: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[Richard Snelson]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
I think that is what Dean is saying here, "If it ain't broke, don't fix =
it.". And that's a fine saying for an old washing machine. It sits there =
doing the laundry, but each time it looses itself in a spin cycle and =
causes someone to rush in a turn it off to reset the load. It not =
however a fine saying for an often abused professional list
that could and can be a lot better. There are many individuals that tune =
in and read the list for a while, then tune out when then note the heavy =
traffic and the cat/dog
fights that go on. How many people in your chapter read the list? I know =
of at least 6 in ours that do not and the above reason plays a big part =
in why they tune out.=20
Having those individuals on board could only make the content and =
professional grade of this list better. We will increase our experience =
factor by ten-fold. I've been in and out of the list over the last five =
years and from what I've read using OT ain't going to change it. By the =
way light batter, a joke thrown in, can be fine. Newton was famous for =
that. Don't we miss him? Yes.=20

I belong to several writers group that run similar list.  The have a =
moderator, he/she doesn't show up until the heavy OT happens. They pass =
warnings and then by gosh they act! Good bye. The problem we have is =
that some individual thrive on the stuff. I'm guilty of  having times =
that I could hardly wait for the secondary shelling that I knew was =
about to happen. I've stopped, hopefully getting into the =
political/religion threads. No one can win on those, not the place for =
it. So to wind up here, It's broke! Fine leave it be. I'm looking =
forward to the new approach, a new professional moderated list! =20
Richard Snelson
rsnelson0984@mchsi.com
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Dean May=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 9:15 AM
  Subject: on topic about off topic


  Posted to the list back in February:

  no more Northwestern organ majors

I see in the Trib today that Northwestern University has cancelled its =
organ music program due to lack of interest. No organ majors have =
enrolled in the school since 2000. Presently enrolled organ majors can =
finish their degree, but that's it. Just thought somebody might be =
interested in this.=20

  =20

  =20

  It is interesting to go back through the archives. The above post came =
from an individual who has recently been complaining loudly, peppered =
with angry marks, about the necessity of keeping discussions on the =
topic of pianos and only pianos. Obviously there is no reference to =
pianos above. In fact, browsing through the archives, he often complains =
loudly about OT posts, sometimes having 3 or 4 angry and loud OT posts =
in any given OT thread.

  =20

  The problem is not OT posts, it is the loud and angry posts about OT =
posts. They make it miserable for everyone. Most everyone makes OT =
posts, even those who complain about it. I pointed out to a different =
complainer that for the month of April his OT posts outnumbered mine by =
an 8 to 1 margin. But he sure likes to complain about certain OT posts =
with loud (all caps) text and profuse exclamation points.=20

  =20

  OT posts are inevitable, and even desirable. They give us insights =
into the lives of our fellow techs, many of whom are really smart and =
know fascinating tidbits on a whole range of subjects. Without OT posts =
I wouldn't have found the patch to make my laptop's LCD screen sharper, =
I wouldn't know Ric Benke is a fellow dark beer lover, I wouldn't know =
that Sarah thinks about deep issues that most of us allow our opinions =
to shaped by others around us on,  and some of you wouldn't have Avery =
Todd's BBQ recipe.=20

  =20

  There is no need for the list to be moderated. Who has time and what =
criteria would be used? Would the above organ post have made it through? =
Would Avery Todd's BBQ recipe have made it? Would those with secret =
handshake be given more leeway?   ;-)   (sorry, I couldn't resist)

  =20

  Nearly every mail handler that I am aware of has filtering capability. =
Just set up a rule to filter out OT (case sensitive) or "off topic" to =
the deleted folder. You could even move them to a different temporary =
folder if you wanted to briefly scan them for whatever reason. For =
anyone who "hates" off topic posts this is a very easy thing to do. If =
you use Microsoft Outlook I'd be happy to walk you through how to do it. =
If you use something else, I'm sure someone else on this list could help =
you with it.=20

  =20

  The only thing is we would have to remember to put OT in the subject =
line, which most people are pretty good about doing, but sometimes even =
those who complain when it doesn't show up forget, as in the above organ =
post. Reminders may need to be issued periodically. No big deal.=20

  =20

  Let's extend a little grace and tolerance to one another here. I think =
we can do it without an act of Congress.=20

  =20

  Blessings,

  =20

  =20

  Dean

  =20

  Dean May             cell 812.239.3359

  PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272

  Terre Haute IN  47802

  =20

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/61/10/2e/9b/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--