Miata Mailing List: September 1996, Message #0215
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   From: ACAPress@aol.com

Subject: Opinions on the list (was Re: No Subject) (long -- please bear with me)

   Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 11:34:42 -0500



In a message dated 96-09-02 15:15:00 EDT, you write:





Usually I try not to get involved with these kids of debates.  It is a simple

fact that what some consider trivial, others consider essential and

vice-versa.  However... This is yet another case of someone crying b/c they

don't like the direction the list has taken.  He/she says...



>As of tomorrow I will be usubscribed from the list. The reason for this is

>that this list has become a joke. 

>Thank god for the archives

>These last three months of my almost-two-year membership have seen this list

>totally go down the drain.



The reason for the list "going down the drain" is as follows... 



>Things really started to get bad when this list became a sort of lifestyle

>list, I could put up with articles about previous cars, dream cars, great

>rides, how a car got it's name...but nowadays people just start posting

>everything and just put the word miata in front and think it is ok.





>The catalyst for this seemed to be a woman who has recently discovered this

>list and uses it as a trivial way to spend her day. Every little idea that

>pops into her head HAS to be submitted to this list, rarely miata related.

>She admitted this herself last week when she had the balls to put 'miata

>related for once' next to a post.

>She of course is not the reason for the demise of this list, many people saw

>her posts (which were funny at first) and decided they wanted to be like

here

>and litter this list with everything but car-related material.



Who is to say what the list is for, exactly.  OK, it's called he "Miata

mailing list," so we can look at this one of two ways.  It can be a simple

question and answer forum dealing with thing like how to change tires, torque

bolts, install headers etc., which is not a bad thing.  In fact, obviously

several people might want it to become this.



On the other hand, it can be a "Miata mailing list" that is not only about

the cars, but also about the people that drive them.  In MY opinion (not

IMHO, because I'm NOT really humble about this -- I'm right), a car without a

person driving is just a hunk 'o metal.  Why can the "Miata mailing list" not

be a vibrant, living entity in which people with a common passion (their car)

share information not only about their vehicle, but also about themselves.

 In fact, because we are all brought together by a common love for this

unique automible, ANY topic brought up is, in a sense, "Miata related."  OK,

so where you went this weekend in your Miata is irrelevant in technical

terms, but I for one would much rather share the experience of someone

cruising through the mountains IN THEIR MIATA than debate the merits of one

torque wrench vs. another for days on end.



>Please for the sake of this list (and don't write telling me 'what do you

>care, you're gone) stop posting all this trivial crap to your friends, what

>do you think private email is for ?



You said it -- "to your friends."   This is a GATHERING PLACE -- a SOCIAL

PLACE.  Just because somthing does not interest you does not mean it isn't

relevant to the Miata.



>Many of us have always complained that there was not enough 'technical'

>posts, but we all managed to sit it through. I am the first to say that

there

>is a need for more lighthearted posts now and then, but once they become the

>norm, all is lost.



>This list is not a playground or gathering place for the terminally bored

who

>'have' to sit at a terminal from 9 to 5 and want to fill their hours (when

>the boss is not looking) chatting to their buddies on the list. 



Life should be fun -- lighten up.  In fact, this IS a playground of sorts --

friendly interaction is the best kind of adult play.  We've been brought here

by a common interest -- let's enjoy it, not limit our interaction.



>Thankfully I do not own a crystal ball otherwise would I see this ? : a list

>full of people telling each other about last weekend's date, what restaurant

>they went to, what wine they had, if the movie was any good how they were

too

>tired from the date to play volleyball the next day....oh btw, I drove my

>Miata to the restaurant....



Sorry -- again, this is relevant Miata material.  Maybe not what you would

like to read about, but it is relevant to some of us.



>These messages along with the occasional tech question from a newbie will

>make up for the 150 + messages you will receive every day. The people on the

>list who can actually give good advice and tips will be long gone, moved on

>to the newsgroup or a more Miata orientated list.



God forbid.  I certainly hope those damn newbies learn to keep their stupid

and boringly repetitive questions to themselves so you can delve deeply into

whether the GFD X-2500 electrostatic modulator at 12.345 amps is a more

efficient fuel control device than the Supernut YK-Z4500 at 11.897 amps.  Oh,

wait... even with the newbies and social types, YOU CAN STILL DO THIS!!!



>And before I forget, I have no interest in some person pointing out or me

>that my syntax could be better or that I made some spelling mistakes. This

is

>not English 101, this is (was) the Meat list. Hopefully your immaculate

>spelling will help you next time you have to replace your shocks or you have

>to change your tire in the pouring rain



Y'know, I've NEVER seen those on the list who are more social complain that

useless technical junk (and some of it is, let's admit it) gets in the way of

their fun.  I suspect that they simply delete the thread and move on to what

interests them.  Why can't you do the same?  And don't pick on Leigh and

Jeannie -- they seem to be good people.



To sum up (sorry if this is rambling, everyone), If you like tech stuff, it's

still here -- "frivilous" chatter doesn't make it go away.  It's always the

techies complaining about subject matter.  Maybe when Bill's list is up, this

will change, but until then this list must serve all kinds of Miata topics.

 Some you will like, some you will not.  Read the ones you like, don't read

the one's you don't.  FWIW, I've made some pretty good friends here, and not

one has stemmed from electrical diagrams or fuel pump questions, and I'd

rather have a good friend than a more efficient fuel pump any day.  The

beauty of the Miata mailing list as it is now is, I can have both!



James Leasure

96 M

Fairfax, VA



















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