Miata Mailing List: September 1996, Message #0279
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   From: "Jyri J. Virkki" 

Subject: Re: Response to Another JERK (Kinda long but I don't do this often.)

   Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 23:04:48 -0500



> 

> Why must I say, like so many before me, "If you don't like the list...get

> the hell off!!" 



I'm not sure why you _must_ say so, but I don't think it's the best response.



I find it disturbing that every time someone chooses to express their

opinion that the list has become very diluted of Miata content, they

are greeted with extreme insults and told to "get the hell off the list

and never come back, we don't need your type anyway".



Any wonder some choose to post anonymously, why subject themselves to

such hate mail?



Personally, I don't mind the social commentary and other non-technical

content.  I have and use good filtering software so regardless of

volume, the list mail can't interfere with other mail.  I also have

the free time in the evenings to read thru all the volume.  Some

people have other committments and don't have such free time.  That

doesn't make them idiots or jerks or "bad" miata owners unable to

contribute good info.  And I'm sure there's others who use bad

software that doesn't support proper filtering mechanisms.  That

doesn't make them idiots or jerks either (I suppose that one could be

argued, but we can leave it to comp.os.religion ;-)



There is no denying that technical content is in the minority lately.

Nothing intrinsically wrong with that, but it is true.  I'd also bet

that we have lost a fair number of subcribers who could've (or used

to) contribute good technical info but for whatever reasons didn't

choose to keep up with the volume of nonrelated material.  Some point

out "its their loss, shut up and go away".  Yes, it's their loss, but

it is OUR loss too.



Nothing atypical about this situation though, it's common to long

running lists and newsgroups.  As volume grows, different goals become

apparent.  It's fairly useless to argue about it since nobody is

"wrong".  The only effective solution is usually to split the list.

Those who have no interest in *charger theory but a keen interest in

voleyball can read this list.  Those who just want to discuss tech

theory and practice can read miata-tech without being forced off by

the babble.  And those of us who like both can read both lists and get

more out of each one than from the single list.



If I had the resources to set up a list I'd set up a miata-tech right

now.  Unfortunately I don't, but I'd like to encourage if anyone has

the facilities and feels similary, to do so.  



--

Jyri J. Virkki - 201 829 4213 - Linux: Choice of a GNU generation















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