I think that there actually is more of an issue than just stop them early. The real question in my mind is this a strictly S scale list or a social list for S scale enthusiasts? The answer to that question actually answers the first I believe.
Personally I consider this to be a social list for S scale enthusiasts. I enjoy the occasional banter and honestly feel that if we limited the discussion to purely S scale modeling topics with no rambling or occasional off topic discussions it would be a less interesting list. However I fully agree with not allowing things to get personal. I've noticed that often comments I find fine are taken as offensive by others and I may have unintentionally offended others because of differences in culture and background. I grew up in a different society where good natured ribbing and teasing was normal. It is however difficult to determine tone in an email because you can't see the smile or wink from the speaker. My feeling is people now days are just too thin skinned as my Scottish grandmother would say and look for offense rather than take the comments as intended. So maybe a poll on what people want the list to be? Purist modeling, social, limited topics, whatever. Carey Carey Probst Member, M.I.T. Educational Council S Scale, Sn3 and S High Rail/AF A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. On 2/17/2011 9:49 AM, Pieter Roos wrote: > > It always surprises me that people abandon the list during high > activity times. Certainly the thread beginning about S magazines > branched into Promotion, Philosophy, Animosity and "We need powered > turnouts" over the course of a week. During that same time we had > Peter's RS-1, Bob Frascella's P-70 coach, Dave's new web site and a > number of other posts that were very positive and helpful, probably > more such posts than during an average week. > > OTOH, the wandering Promotions etc. thread consumed more bandwidth > than all the positive "look what I did" threads combined. > > Maybe if the membership emailed Bill and me through the List Owners > option on your view, should we nip these wandering "philosophical" > threads much earlier in their history? It is these type of threads > that always seem to take a negative turn at some stage. > > Pieter E. Roos > > --- On Thu, 2/17/11, Bill Lane <[email protected] > <mailto:bill%40lanestrains.com>> wrote: > > The buyer of the collection already in an S Scaler that > > attends all of the > > NASG convention, but is not active here, so we did lose 1. > > The seller was > > dabbling in O Scale. He will now dabble a little more. > > > > > > > > As I originally said 1 of the reasons stated for selling > > was the tone of the > > list. Of course there were other factors involved however I > > am just > > co-opting THIS one. > > > > > > > > The bull's-eye of my first post was what about the curious > > guys that join, > > lurk for a bit and leave? You never know why. As co-owner > > and gate keeper I > > see it happening every day. General list members do not see > > it. There are > > days when the list is the Eeyore convention beating the > > death drum. Someone > > quietly kicking the tires on S Scale is not going to hang > > around for that. > > > > > > > > If you judge your activity and general well being based on > > the quantity of > > new products coming out, again you should probably NOT be > > in S Scale. We all > > like when new stuff comes out but MOST of us have enough on > > our shelves to > > keep us busy for a very long time and possible 2 life times > > if nothing new > > ever comes out again. In short be happy with what you have > > and use it. It > > does not cost you anything to use what you already have! > > > > > > > > I have strayed a bit from the original premise but it IS > > relevant. As Tom > > Hawley mentioned, members should not feel guilty about what > > they post, but > > some real life and continued self editing could be in order > > here. I by far > > do not want the list to go quiet. It should remain the > > place for S Scalers > > to converse and exchange. Your rule of the day could be if > > YOU were a newbie > > reading what YOUI are about to post would it have a > > positive or negative > > impact on your future life in S Scale. > > > > Going to get supplies to continue expanding my layout.. > > > > Thank You, > > Bill Lane > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
