[NTLUG:Discuss] NTLUG Discuss Guidelines

[greenglow484@juno.com]

On Sat, 25 Mar 2000 23:52:28 -0600 Steve Baker <sjbaker1 at airmail.net>
writes:

	<snip>

> Actually, I think the problem is that the guidelines published so 
> far
> have been to do with netiquette and moderation.
> 
> I don't think either of those things are a serious problem.

	<snip>

> What we *desperately* need IMHO - and what the previous 'guidelines'
> don't address - is what is to be considered off-topic for this list.

	<snip>

> Personally, I think that we would be better served having a set of
> mailing lists.  The one's I've proposed are:
> 
> NTLUG-announce : A read-only list that only a few nominated people
>                  can post to that carries notices of meetings,
>                  special events and so on.
> 
> NTLUG-discuss  : A list which is only for discussion of NTLUG 
> business meetings and special events. Nothing else.
> 
> NTLUG-helpline : What this list currently spends most of it's time 
> doing.  Answering Linux-related questions.
> 
> NTLUG-jobs     : Job offers, job requests, nothing else.
> 
> NTLUG-smallAds : Computers, peripherals for sale, 'want ads', etc.

	<snip>

> In effect, this allows people to customize NTLUG's mailings to their
> own personal tastes.

	<snip>

	The idea of separate listservs does not sound so bad to me.  The upside
to it:  Like you said, Steve:  Largely, the idea that each can subscribe
to what he/she wants.  Freedom to choose.

	A downside:  (This occurred to me a week or so ago, when I was thinking
about whether I thought we needed separate "newbie" and
"more-experienced" listservs):  Maybe it will cause some fragmentation of
the group:  A unity is maintained when everyone reads (except for the
jobs list) basically one list.  (Of course, we do already have >1 list: 
jobs, and announce.  But still, for the main stuff, there's only 1 right
now:  NTLUG Discuss.)

	Plus, as to the 5 lists you proposed:  You left out a potential area. 
Example:  Suppose I'm burning to launch a discussion of why I think
(which I do, btw), that U.C.I.T.A. is a lousy, reprehensible idea for
open-source, free (speech) software.  

	Or, suppose I just want to point out some idiotic thing that Micro$oft,
or Sun, or someone else, is doing, compared to Linux; or I have come up
with something I think is noteworthy, as to countering Micro$oft's phony
Linux "myths". 

	Or even that post I did, yesterday morning:  "Hey, guys & gals, check
out the Dallas Morning News article on Linux and NTLUG.  Here's the URL."
 In the proposed 5 lists above, nowhere to do that ("...NTLUG-discuss  :
A list which is only for discussion of NTLUG business meetings and
special events. Nothing else.")

	I think stuff like this is a sort of "additive" for the discussion
lists.  It's not technical, so anyone (even a newbie like me) has an
opinion, and can join in.  It offers some contrast to the technical
discussion of configuring servers, modems etc.  Or, maybe the group
thinks this kind of stuff shouldn't be covered; Save it for /. or for
Linux Today (Not my preference, but maybe I'm in the minority).  Any
ideas, anyone?
--
Doug Darnold
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk!  For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.