Very well said! Bill AD5OL
----- Original Message ---- From: "Todd, KA1KAQ" <[email protected]> To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:16:28 AM Subject: [AMRadio] List Misconceptions A couple things come to mind that probably warrant addressing. Some folks mistakenly think the following: - A quiet list is a bad list - An email listserve/reflector is a democracy with free speech rights A quiet list is not the same as a dead list. There are times of the year when online activity wanes a bit, particularly once the weather improves and folks spend more time outside, with family, anywhere but online. Some take the silence to mean 'any' traffic is better than none. Not so. While we have wandered of topic on items not directly related to amateur AM radio (the broadcast industry comes to mind), it's important to keep in mind why we're here. Spirited debates on such things as contesting, DXing, FCC rules and such take place from time to time but tend to run their course quickly. Of all the lists like this I've belonged to over the years, none has been a true free-speech/anything goes forum. More accurately, they are basically a benevolent dictatorship. They have basic, simple rules, are of great benefit to belong to if you're into that interest as well as a way to meet like-minded folks. While I try not to take online activity any more seriously than amateur radio, old cars, or any other interest, it's important to keep in mind that the list owner has final say, moderators merely being an extension of the listowner's views. I've been on this list since the mid-90s and always felt Brian did an excellent job with it. He's always been in it for the right reasons, always willing to listen to others, and taking more crap than any one person should have to in an effort to please the members. Brian is also the original founder of AMfone.net, which later came to encompass W2INR's AM Classifieds and the BB function of WB3HUZ's AM Window. Those are the three guys I credit for doing the most for the mode of amateur AM online. I also know a lot of jokes. Few of them would qualify for prime time broadcast. Even if it was allowed here, I'd not tell them because it's a certainty that someone would be offended, inevitably including some friends. It isn't about stifling freedom of speech, political correctness or anything more than common sense. If you wouldn't say it in front of your mother, your 10 yr old daughter, the new neighbors who moved in yesterday or a group of strangers, that should be a clue. If you *would*, perhaps some time away from the keyboard brushing up on your social skills is more important. Likewise, if you have to preface a post with "Couldn't resist" or "I know this doesn't belong here", take a breath and let it go. Don't hit the 'Common Sense Override' switch. Most of us wander off topic a bit from time to time, or forget to clip excess text when quoting, but we try to improve. Blatantly and intentionally going against the rules invites removal. Especially when the moderators offer warning after warning. Thanks for the read, and thanks to Brian for his labor of love for this list, as well as to Jim for his incredible patience and kind-hearted warnings when things head in the wrong direction. Both have tolerated a lot more than many others would. ~ Todd, KA1KAQ/4 AMbassador [] ______________________________________________________________ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: [email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: [email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
