This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Correct Dean. I would not want someone to screen the list causing a time = lapse. Simply read and help when the topic goes astray. Help could be in = the form of direct email to individuals, not to the list. Only my ideas = here, but the experience I've had on the Writing Workshops. Rich=20 Richard Snelson rsnelson0984@mchsi.com ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Dean May=20 To: Richard Snelson=20 Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 10:31 AM Subject: OT:"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." >>I think that is what Dean is saying here, "If it ain't broke, don't = fix it." =20 Actually, it obviously is broken for an irritated few, and the = solution is simple: set up the filter. The last couple of months people = have been really good about putting OT in the subject line. No reason = why it wouldn't work.=20 =20 Another disadvantage to going moderated is the time lapse factor. = Right now someone can post a question and within 30 minutes get a half = dozen answers to his question. That will change if we go moderated.=20 =20 Also, you can now log on any time of the day and get all the posts = since last time you checked. If we go moderated you won't be able to get = posts until the moderator clears them. Unless we go with a moderator = similar to the other lists Richard is on.=20 =20 Dean =20 Dean May cell 812.239.3359 PianoRebuilders.com 812.235.5272 Terre Haute IN 47802 =20 -----Original Message----- From: Richard Snelson [mailto:rsnelson0984@mchsi.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 10:05 AM To: deanmay@pianorebuilders.com; Pianotech Subject: OT: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." =20 . 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 =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 =20 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/d6/55/85/55/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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