Hi All
What defines an acceptable Digital thread ?
A windows anomaly,usually very short lived and curtailed ,or an Extensis problem,very
drawn out and of limited interest !
In answer to the various posts on this topic - from this week's list mum.
1. On a strictly technical and nit picking note - this list is not moderated. Moderated normally entails each post being checked by a moderator before being published, or the moderator having the power to edit or delete posts. On this list we just have list mums to advise and request - after the event. Just a technicality.
2. The weakness of having a number of listmums is that we are never going to get 100% consistency. We are different people and will always make slightly different judgements. However we do converse as much as possible behind the scenes to get consistency.
3. Whatever it may seem, the listmums try very hard NOT to interfere in the subjects being discussed. The VAST majority of the messages we send are to do with trimming, sending in html/richtext and quoting email addresses. We do in fact every week encourage listers to ask if they are unsure whether a subject is on or off topic, and many listers do in fact do so.
4. We do recognise that there is an enormous amount of knowledge within this list, without as well as within the digital imaging arena and we will normally allow a post requesting off topic information as long as the subsequent exchange is kept off list. We also encourage listers who thus gain the information, to post it in the annex area for the future use of others.
5. On the specific points of Windows anomaly, Extensis, copyright symbols and PS web gallery.
It is of course difficult to draw exact lines and yes, the list mum has to take a view on how long a thread is likely to run when deciding whether or not to close it.
If a question is solely about an operating system, and is not to do with say a conflict between a digital imaging app and the OS, then this would be seen as purely an OS question, for which there are many other and probably more suited forums where the question can be asked. By all means make a post asking if anyone knows of such a forum and asking for replies off list.
Extensis Portfolio is a widely used digital imaging cataloguing app and as such is a very valid topic for discussion. The fact that only a small proportion of listers may use it, while we all use an OS, is not a reason for it to be off topic.
The copyright symbol question is very borderline. However from experience, I know that it will attract 10 or so replies in the space of half a day then will stop. It is pointless to try to close the thread because it will have stopped before the listmum message gets to the list. HOWEVER - the important point that all should note. A quick search of the archive for "copyright symbol" shows 37 postings over the last year . If listers were to check the archive before posting questions on copyright symbols, unblocking inkjets etc (I don't believe it's that hard to guess whether someone else has had a similar question in the past) it would make the list a lot less noisy
PS Web Gallery. Once again a difficult line to draw. Photoshop is a digital imaging app. Yes. It's when the web gallery aspect becomes a purely html thing that the line is crossed (html discussion being specifically excluded in the guidelines - there are plenty of other specialist html forums around)
6. The whole Digital Imaging market place has changed dramatically since Prodig started, as has the membership of the list. Steve Climpson is quite right when he says that many of the old timers no longer post and he is probably also correct when he says this is largely because of the amount of low quality "noise". On balance I think the listowner and list mums get as many, if not more, complaints about the lack of quality postings as we do about being too controlled. So on balance we are probably not far off - though of course everyone will have an opinion.
Two things to consider when you are posting. Is my post actually adding something to the discussion? Have I checked to see if someone has already answered this question in the way I am going to (did we REALLY need that many replies to the copyright symbol question?)
I for one would rather have less, But quality postings - both as a lister and as a list mum:-).
As for whether this thread is on or off topic? Well I'll leave it for today and see how it pans out
Best
Francis Newman Prodig Duty List Mum
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