A few folk on the list have probably had similar notes from me. Basically it's about keeping some regard for the <ambit> list etiquette, which surely everyone must have read by now. If not, check out the web site at http://www.mediascot.org/ambit
Why have any "rules" at all? (I prefer "guidelines"... but so what) Why not just free expression, 24/7/365?
This is something that Bev and I thought about when setting up the list in the Autumn of 2001. Netiquette guidelines and a topic focus were seen as important, for a number of reasons. Firstly, to make <ambit> distinctive. Otherwise, why set up a list at all? Why not just join nettime, Spectre, Empyre, Rhizome RAW, or some other list? The distinctiveness is partly acheived through the geographic and social base of the list - most of the <ambit> community are still within Scotland, or have strong Scottish connections. But also the focus of the list is around media art, technologies and art - and discussing these topics. We've tried to keep discussion going through the monthly topics. I think to some extent this has helped to keep a certain level of debate going, otherwise it would be mainly an announcements list.
If sticking to these guidelines seems a bit po-faced or even irrelevant, I can understand that. But excessive off-topic posting to the list gets pretty tedious for those who for example already have a web hosting provider. There are many technical support resources for all major computing platforms available on the web, even dedicated e-mail lists for, say, the Powerbook G3. All that is required to find them is to consult your favourite search engine.
If an e-mail from me suggests that you stick to the posting guidelines a bit more, is that really censorship? I don't think so. Short of removing your e-mail address from the list, it's literally not possible for me or anyone else to stop you from saying whatever you like on <ambit>. I would ask that people consider if <ambit> is necessarily the right place to ask their question, or post their announcement. Is a pause for thought really that difficult? Also, if the etiquette guidelines warn against sending particular kinds of messages to the list, please respect them. Most, but not all e-mail lists have posting guidelines. There are good reasons for their existence - I could spell it out line by line but I'm hoping the reasons are self-evident.
For the libertines amongst us, if you want to know what a free-for-all artists e-mail list (was) like, and chart their inevitable implosion, try a search with the following keywords: 7-11, Syndicate, Rhizome RAW.
Chris
At 2:40 pm +0000 4/2/03, Ben Woodeson wrote:
Personally I agree, recently there was an enquiry about possible web hosts, I was told that such things should be off list. This was not something I agreed with, many of us have sites, possible good/bad/indifferent reports on hosts is something I would (and did) read with interest.There is quite a range of practices, needs, opportunities out there even within the "boundaries" of new media. How hard is it to find the delete key? If a subject line is accurate then bring it on is my opinion. Cheers, Ben On 4/2/03 1:15 pm, "Gair" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:surely there's more to discussion than exhibition announcements and forwarded calls for entries?------------------------------------------------- a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] archive: http://www.mediascot.org/ambit info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and write "info ambit" in the message body -------------------------------------------------
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Chris Byrne [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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New Media Scotland tel: +44 131 477 3774 P.O. Box 23434, Edinburgh EH7 5SZ fax: +44 131 477 3775
Scotland, UK http://www.mediascot.org
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a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland
post: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
archive: http://www.mediascot.org/ambit
info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
and write "info ambit" in the message body
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