In fact, there was once a discussion about this list being like a pub where
Pentaxians gather to yak. Some really liked this, others were uncomfortable
with it. We appear (at least in the past) to strike a medium with some folks
on both ends of the pure on- topic business Vs pub discussion not 100%
happy, but tolerable and enjoyable to most folks anyway.
It's usually a good idea to just accept things for a while until one gets
used to a new community. Coming to a new town and, within the short time,
insisting on changing the downtown edifices is not usually a good idea. Most
long time groups have evolved to the way they are for a reason. Perhaps the
townsfolk could do things better, but it's not usually a good idea to walk
up to one of the town's old timers and redress him for some "infraction".
Everyone in the town will look around and say, "Who are you?" It would be
the natural way for them to react.
Regards,
Bob...
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty
is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Brogden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 12:22 AM
Subject: Re: Guide to the perplexed
> On Mon, 8 Jan 2001, SETH wrote:
>
> > Since Chris has asked nicely, I'll try to answer. This forum is used
> > to discuss subjects related to Pentax photographic cameras. Sure we
> > can extend it to peripheral products that are made or marketed by
> > Pentax. But where does it end? Do we start full examination of
> > tripods, since Pentax USA use to sell one? Do we examine all minutia
> > of photo film, since some Pentax P&S kits include a roll? How about a
> > full survey of camcorders (Pentax has sold one may moons ago)? What
> > about medical imaging products or surveying equipment? Inkjet
> > printers? As long as we are heading that way, why not a full
> > discussion of automobiles? Brands of canned tuna? Femine hygiene
> > products? Where does it end?
>
> You know, I can understand where you're coming from on this. I joined an
> Aikido list once with similar expectations, and found that the OT posts
> outnumbered the relevant ones by about 5:1 at least. When I asked
> about it, one of the long-time members said that it wasn't so much an
> Aikido dojo or lecture hall... it was more like the bar where you went
> after Aikido class to talk about stuff. While that is obviously an
> extreme example, I like that more relaxed approach. Of course,
> preferences will vary, but it seems that the vast majority of us do have
> occasional questions about film, tripods, trucks, computers, and digital
> cameras. This has been going on for a very long time, and while it's no
> justification for anything, this mixture does seem to have become the tone
> of the group.
>
> Since the PDML is no longer run by Pentax, it's up to the list owner to
> censor the group (or not) as he sees fit. When it comes right down to it,
> this is the way the group is, for better or for worse. If you don't like
> it, you could always start an on-topic only group through egroups, or
> filter out "OT" posts (we don't always remember to mark them as such, and
> a friendly reminder never hurts there). Basically, since the majority of
> members prefer the list to remain the way it currently is, then you can
> either cope with it the best you can (filtering, for example) or start a
> different list, which I'm sure some of us would check out. With
> discussion groups like these there's no "right" or "wrong" way to
> structure one; they're just different approaches. Each has its merits,
> right?
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