Welcome back, Tom. Profanities notwithstanding, the list wouldn't be the
same (read "as good") without you.
John
At 08:24 PM 09/21/2001 -0500, you wrote:
Giles was nice enough to copy me on his email to the list. In the spirit of
his request, I'm going to resubscribe. OK, I realize many of you are
muttering profanities under your breath right now.
I also realize that with my, well, stubborn personality, I often escalate
what could be minor OT threads into more major ones. (now there are people
rolling onto the floor laughing) and I promise to hold my tongue, or my
keyboard, wherever possible.
I've also been pushy (yeah, yeah) and written the others that unsubscribed
and encouraged them to come back too.
For those of you that are fairly new, the last couple months have been very
unusual here on the list. I belong to several lists and have never seen one
with the sense of family that this list has. I know I've personally have a
rough couple years with my wife's health (much better, thankfully), and my
friends on this list have been a huge help and support during that time.
The world is an interesting place when some of the people I consider close
friends live thousands of miles away -- and I have never met them in person,
but that is how I feel about the people I know here, and hopefully they feel
the same. So, I certainly encourage everyone, whether they are long
standing members, or subscribed today, to become an even bigger part of the
family. It's a great place to be.
I'm rambling now, but one last point. In a world as confused and messed up
as our's clearly is, we need a refuge like this. Let's make it a great
place again.
My thanks to Giles for an unenviable job. We all appreciate it.
Tom
>
> The current level of seriously off-topic posts to the lists is causing
> serious levels of acrimony. Quite a few long-time list members have
> recently left the list as a result, their reasons are not identical but
the
> common factor is off-topic posts.
>
> Those who have left include:
>
> Garth Woods
> Gary Reese
> Tom Scales
> Dave Bulger
> John Hudson
> Dirk Wright
>
> And probably others, these are just the ones that spring immediately to
> mind. I don't think any of these people have been subscribers for less
> than 3+ years.
>
> I think it is fairly obvious that when list members of such long standing,
> and who have contributed so much, decide to leave almost en masse - there
> is a problem.
>
> I have never wanted to moderate the list or act as censor. Even now I do
> not wish to.
>
> So I am hereby making an 'appeal' for a big reduction in the sustained
> pursuit of off-topic threads.
>
> In light of the recent horrific and momentously tragic events in the US, I
> think there is obviously a clear emotional desire and need for some people
> to discuss related matters.
>
> So it is my suggestion that those who wish to pursue whatever issues they
> feel a need to - do so freely for one week as of this day. So by Saturday
> 29th long running off topic threads should cease.
>
> I will go further and suggest that at-length discussions of American
> politics and millitary actions, unless they somehow pertain to Olympus
> photographic equipment, should be discouraged.
>
> These are just suggestions. If I were to make them rules I might
> ultimately have to enforce them and eject offenders from the list. I
would
> rather join the ranks of the departed than be put in that position.
>
> Essentially this is a plea for people to exercise discretion and self
> restraint with regard to off-topic threads. By no means am I suggesting
> that no off-topic discussions arise, just that people should try and keep
> an eye on the signal to noise ratio of the list at any given time and
> perhaps refrain from contributing to the noise when they realise the
> overall level has gotten to be a bit much.
>
> I seriously feel that if we do not do something collectively about this
> situation fairly soon, the continuation of this list may be in doubt.
>
> I would like to extend a plea to all those who have recently departed
> because of some aspect of this issue, to please reconsider.
>
> Giles
> List Administrator
>
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