This is in regards to the messages about how the GML should be used. The
amount of emails I have received from the list and in private on this topic
has become to overwhelming to reply to individually.
I for one do not want see any experts leave or anyone for that matter. I
have been a breeder for 1.5 years but I do not consider myself an expert. I
have been on the GML for a year. I remember all the experts we use to have
and they use to send lots of great messages to the GML. I feel those people
were very knowledgeable and I miss seeing a lot of posts from them. Some of
the people that I miss seeing posts from are, but not limited too, Jessi D.,
Elizabeth H., Meg H., Michelle H., Emily F., Kelly C., Amy H., Pam C., Sue
G., Karen V., Ehrenfried E. I learned a lot from these people and I really
appreciate all the help they have given. I know some of these people many
not be subscribed anymore or are still here but just remaining quiet. I miss
all of their great knowledgeable emails. It would be nice if the GML can be
like that again. If people can post like that again maybe the mediocre
messages will slow down.
The GML is a forever changing list due to new members subscribing and others
unsubscribing. How would a new person know that someone else asked the same
question days before they did? Also it takes time for a new person to learn
that we have a charter, archive, and a GML site on the IGF site,, oh,, and
also a gerbilFAQ. I think all we can do is send the new person the links and
express how important it is to follow the guide lines and SAVE those links.
These links should be either bookmarked or saved in a Favorites list. If you
don't know how to do that,, then ask anyone in private. I'm sure anyone
would be willing to help in private. Also create folders in your mail
program to store messages you think are worth keep so you can look back at
them later. I have several hundred messages that I keep for reference. I
have them organized in such a way that it is fairly easy to find what I'm
looking for,, if I can't find it then I go to the archive.
I think why some people may have left or slowed down on responding is
because of the amount of unnecessary messages. Some people have to pay for
the time it takes to download and send their mail,, that's why some get very
upset when a picture is sent to the list,, those take time to download
costing the person some money.
With a lot of unnecessary messages if forces some to start picking and
choosing what messages are deleted before being read, causing them to
possibly miss important info and good questions. Also alot of messages end
up being skimmed over instead of read completely causing them to miss
important questions and information.
An example of an unnecessary message,, if you have a new litter of pups, and
one of the pups die,,, don't send a message right away telling us a pup
died.,,, wait a week and see if more die,, then post one message telling
that most of the litter didn't survive instead of sending a message each
time a pup dies,,, this will help cut down on the amount of mail. If you are
posting this message as an update for the pup count,, then send it to me in
PRIVATE,, if anyone is interested, they will see the info on the pup count
results page.
Another example,, Congratulation messages are definitely NOT necessary to
post to the GML. If someone makes a birth announcement,, then go ahead and
send them a message in private. It is not necessary to clutter up everyones
inboxes with those types of messages.
This is my second attempt at writing this long email. I was just about done
with the first one when my computer decided to shut down and restart causing
me to loose my message I was working on. gggrrr,,,It's causing me to loose
my train of thought as to what all I wanted to say,,,
Ann-Marie L. Roberts
T&T Gerbils
Escanaba, Michigan
Member of the American Gerbil Society
Pup Count Project creator and maintainer
Pup Count Home page:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/pupctlist.html
Please visit my website at:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/
