> The "community" you ask about has fractured. In my opinion, various camps > have pitched tents here and are being territorial. Those who are identified > as being not of the tribe are given the bum's rush or worse; personal > attacks have become all too common. ... I'd like you to consider asking JMDLers to post no more > than, say, four times a day. If enforced, this policy would greatly reduce > the noise and may also serve to make posters more carefully consider what > they are writing...instead of idle chatter perhaps we might enjoy a bit more > thoughtful discourse. > > And since you asked for frankness, I will state that while I am generally in > favor of "hands-off" type management styles, I don't think a contemporary > internet list with lots of passionate and diverse members can ideally > function without some leadership. I'm not calling for moderation, rather a > more active, vocal, and decisive list owner, one who will quickly jump in > when the shit starts flying, ready to scold, threaten, or banish when > necessary. Necessary to keep the topics in the ballpark, necessary to keep > the peace, necessary to guide and shape "one of the best lists on the > internet." > > Scott > I totally agree with Scott on all of the above. My personal feeling, in addition to Scott's post is: I kinda notice that the great majority of new members disappear, either from the list or into lukrdom after just a few posts. What struck me when I first joined is the number of personal messages and inuendos that one can only grasp after being on the list for a while. Now I'm used to it, but I can see how it would make new members feel this is a very select club that's hard to enter. So I would suggest to use more the off-list connection for the personal messages.
Laurent
