On Wed, 27 Mar 2002, neuroticimbecile wrote: > On Monday 25 March 2002 01:22, Andre M. V. wrote: > > On Sun, 24 Mar 2002, Benj wrote: > > > An excerpt from the article in UNIX INSIDER --- 02/26/2002 > > > > > > Another Linux list is nothing new; there are probably dozens of > > > them, if not more. However, they follow the discussion model, in > > > which a list member puts forth a topic and other list subscribers > > > respond in RE: fashion. The results, says Ahmed, is that they > > > wind up "bombing your inbox with a lot of nonsense messages." > > > Linuxmanagers takes a different approach, modeled on the > > > Sun-Managers list: Problem/Solution, a concept developed by John > > > DiMarco, CSLab systems manager at the University of Toronto. > > > > I second to that. What basically happens in > > Sun-Manager is that someone ask a question, > > people in the list respond to the guy/gal, > > not to the list. > > > > The guy/gal then sends to the list an e-mail > > that gives credits to people who responded > > to him/her, and summarizes the answer to > > the question. > > > > It's clear, neat and won't clutter your inbox. > > list manager of the plug mailing lists, can > > we do that? > > > > Example of a post: > > hi there andre and benj, > > thank you very much for your suggestion. let's see if takes on sufficient > support from the other subscribers. so far, there are 2 of you. i've cc'd > this email to plug-misc, if you guys feel strongly about this, we can > continue discussions there, so as not to clutter the main plug list. > > personally, i wouldn't want to implement a problem/solution approach to this > particular list for the ff reasons: > > 1. subscribers on this list provide help on a voluntary basis, we cannot > force the 'askers' to summarize what answers they got / who provided the > answers / which answer did the trick. and if they don't do that, then we'd > mostly see problems on the list archives instead of answers. in fact we > don't even see a lot of thank you's. of course some 'takers' don't even want > to see thank you's in the list. > > 2. i like the way questions and answers fly by, i think lots of lurkers learn > from that. i certainly do. > > 3. lots of problems posted to the list are solved by more than one 'takers' > who post different diagnosis and solutions, sort of like all of them working > together to solve the problem. people who follow the problem thread can > avoid giving redundant solutions which were already posted by other 'takers'. > if we were to implement your proposed scheme, there would be lots of > repetitive solutions sent to the 'asker'. > > 4. there are other ways to avoid inbox clutter by filtering incoming emails > based on subject prefix "[plug]" or by thread, that is, if your email client > supports those features. > > 5. btw, plug _is_ a discussion list, right? i do think your proposed scheme > is perfect for purely-support lists, such as the Sun-Managers list. > > do you really think subscribing to plug is like "bombing your inbox with a > lot of nonsense messages." ??? > > anyway, as i've said a number of times before, qlinux only hosts the lists, > policies are determined by the plug officers, and you, the subscribers. > > hth, > -eric >
Eric, I agree 100% with your thoughts on this issue. In fact i myself subscribed to LinuxManagers and promptly unsubscribed when i got to know of that policy which to me if extremetly stifling. The fact that the content of the list is dependent on the volunterrism of the 'takers' to re-post the answers makes it even harder to get content ideas posted (much less get a discussion going) on the list. I believe that the concept of 'order' in any public forum is subjective at best, and forcing an 'order-promoting' policy on an entire community for the sake of one's definition of order is unfair. It's the individual's responsibility to implement his/her own 'policy' by using filters, etc. Ian _ Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the Linux Newbies' List: send "subscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
