I think this is a wonderful idea. I've had up to 1700 old messages in my
inbox and over half of them were GML messages that I never had time to
delete.
Paige
Amy Yolanda Castillo wrote:
> I have been a member of this list since 1997. I have always enjoyed
> reading the posts, whether they be "social" or "scientific." (In
> fact, the only posts I simply don't read are the fur color/genetics
> posts, as I am not a breeder.) Thus, it is with some dismay that I
> have observed the recent disputes on the list, and the potential
> fracturing of the GML. My personal feeling on this is that the
> departure from the GML of some members is hardly a mass exodus. I
> believe that owing to the basically difficult and complex nature of
> life, it is not always feasible for people to respond to dozens of
> e-mails a day, whether they are about social matters or cutting edge
> breakthroughs in the world of the order rodentia. Moreover, as it has
> been noted, many experts are breeders, and breeding is expensive and,
> for lack of a better term, "bulky." Several of our experts have
> simply left the practice of breeding. Still others are young people
> who are moving into other interests in life, or simply lack the time
> to devote to online communication that they would otherwise devote to
> the hobby of breeding itself. (Anyone remember the Gerbil Club of
> Missouri? :) ) I think that, in time, the GML will adapt to and
> compensate for these fluctuations in membership.
>
> However, the GML is in chaos, and as an invaluable repository of
> gerbil-related information, we must keep it alive at all costs. With
> that in mind, I have a suggestion. Please don't shoot me down or
> flame me right off the bat! It's just an idea!
>
> Perhaps the time has come for us to evolve into a web-based bulletin
> board (hereafter, "BB") format.
>
> There are many things to recommend such a format.
>
> (1) No need to download messages, which can be costly for some
> GMLers.
>
> (2) No need for two separate formats. Purely social and purely
> scientific topics can be posted in one place, eliminating confusion.
> You simply create separate "forums" for different categories of
> topics. On one of my favorite boards, we even have a "Chit Chat"
> forum!
>
> (3) Importantly, members can read and respond to any or all posts or
> topics they wish. They can simply ignore anything that doesn't
> interest them.
>
> (4) The BB format may or may not be moderated, depending on the
> desire of list members. On a BB to which I belong, various
> long-standing board members have volunteered to moderate various
> forums, or topic areas. This promotes a real "caretaker" interest in
> keeping the board, and the individual forums, vibrant, clean, and "on
> point."
>
> (5) Enforcement of charters and rules is simpler and more effective,
> because registration is mandatory and members can be sanctioned or
> even evicted if they fail to comply with BB rules. (Of course,
> troublemakers can continue their wicked ways by assuming multiple
> aliases, but I do not see a reasonable solution to this problem short
> of prohibiting free e-mail based accounts, such as HotMail or Yahoo.
> And I think such a "solution" is far too extreme for the problem. At
> any rate, this has not been a problem on any of the BBs in which I
> have participated. The few troublemakers who do show up are ignored,
> get bored, and go away.)
>
> Of course, there is one great problem with this idea (and it is a
> doozy), that being that BBs are typically licensed to and owned by an
> administrator. This would involve a not insignificant outlay of time
> and cash. I have only just started looking, and perhaps there might
> be some freeware alternative BB formats available. However, someone
> would still have to be willing to set up the board and administer it.
> And we would have to agree on BB rules (I know, I know, the
> probability of consensus is minimal), although perhaps a modification
> of the GML charter would suffice.
>
> I have put about forty minutes into writing this, in the hopes that it
> will promote discussion and ideas better than mine! If anyone is
> interested in seeing a link to a BB that REALLY works, mail me
> privately. This board, devoted to the topic of German Shepherd Dogs,
> is a classic example of how well a BB can work as a community and as a
> repository of information. The board is, bar none, the best source of
> GSD information I have found anywhere, ever. Breeders and "keepers"
> co-exist with few problems, but share information and friendships, and
> manage to solve complicated problems together. It is truly a "virtual
> community."
>
> I have undoubtedly overlooked many deficiencies in the suggestion, and
> these will surely be addressed and hopefully debated. And please
> allow me to clarify: I LOVE this list! I want to see it survive, and
> thrive. Maybe the best way to do that is to evolve. Then again,
> maybe not. This suggestion is just that: a suggestion. Food for
> thought, and nothing more. I've tried to think it through clearly,
> but surely others will have more and better ideas.
>
> ***************************************
> Amy Yolanda Castillo
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
