This is ridiculous- this appears to be largely dealt with in the "The Rules" on www.texascavers.com. There did not seem to be any significant issues until there were a couple blatant violations of Rule numero uno:
"*One: THOU SHALT NOT FLAME!** Civil discourse and discussion is encouraged. It's ok to disagree, but do so agreeably. The List Keeper reserves the right to remove persistent violators. "* ** First course of action isn't to make a new list of rules, but refer to the old ones. If the old ones can address the issue, restate them. If that doesn't work, enforce them. I too often enjoy the socializing and random information exchanged here in addition to caving material. I'd say 40% of my pleasure of "caving" is from actual caving, the rest is getting outside, camping, fires, music, socializing and just the shear enjoyment of a little adventure. Cheers, -B On 1/13/08, George Nincehelser <[email protected]> wrote: > > First it was too warm, then it is to chilly. > > While I don't agree with some of what's been posted here in the past, but > neither do I agree with throwing a wet blanket on the interesting > socializing that goes on here. > > It's too bad. I'll just find somewhere else to hang out, I guess. > > George > > > > On 1/13/08, George Veni <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > There is no need to say "except" below. Cave related equipment is cave > > related. It is not OT. > > > > > > > > For what it's worth, in addition to the on-line responses supporting my > > posting, I've received several private notes of support too. > > > > > > > > George > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > *From:* Matt Turner [mailto: [email protected]] > > *Sent:* Sunday, January 13, 2008 9:01 AM > > *To:* Daniel Hogenauer; [email protected]; > > [email protected] > > *Subject: *Re: [Texascavers] Thoughts on OT postings > > > > > > > > Agree about the OT discussion, except when they involve cave related > > equipment, like David's LED discussions. > > > > > > > > Global Warming, Evolution, and Plastic bags should be on another list. > > > > > > Matt Turner > > > > > > > > "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought > > without accepting it." - Aristotle > > > > > > > > "Empty pockets never held anyone back.Only empty heads and empty hearts > > can do that."- Norman Vincent Peale > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Daniel Hogenauer < [email protected]> > > To: [email protected]; [email protected] > > Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 10:50:33 PM > > Subject: RE: [Texascavers] Thoughts on OT postings > > > > Thank you George, > > > > Thank you for your abiding commitment to and concern for > > caves, cavers, caving organizations and functions, and for this forum. I > > second what you wrote to the TexasCavers community about this news group - > > very well said. I don't think that I was among those who told you that they > > were tempted to unsubscribe, but I am among the subscribers who routinely > > delete every single post from some contributors and many other postings with > > subject line that are of no interest. However I still feel that this > > list has value and I believe that it will be even better for your > > contribution. > > > > Again, thanks, > > > > Dan > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected]. > > Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:26:09 -0700 > > Subject: [Texascavers] Thoughts on OT postings > > > > One of the recent postings on off-topic discussions stated, "Some enjoy > > the OT subjects…" > > > > > > > > I know that's true, but let's compare some numbers. By my count, there > > are about a dozen people who contribute the great majority of OT material. > > I've heard there are close to 200 people registered on > > TexasCavers.com<http://texascavers.com/>. > > That's not a very high number, especially considering that many subscribers > > don't live in Texas. I believe a big reason is the OT postings. I know > > at least 2 dozen cavers who over the past five years or so (two cavers > > within the past 3 weeks) have told me they canceled their subscriptions or > > refused to subscribe due to all of the OT postings. I can count at least 2-3 > > dozen additional cavers who have told me they are tempted to unsubscribe > > because of OT postings, but put up with them to get the rare snippet of > > caving information. If this is only what I've heard, I suspect the actual > > numbers are quite higher. Yes, people can click delete, but why should they? > > Do we embrace spammers and say "It's OK. Just hit delete if you don't want > > the information"? > > > > > > > > To subscribe, cavers go to www.texascavers.com where it states "This > > list should be used for the exchange of information on Texas caving and > > related activities." So when cavers subscribe, they expect information that > > is related to caving, not non-caving information they didn't ask for. Just > > because a caver does, uses, believes, or is interested in something, doesn't > > make that cave related. The basic definition of spam is unsolicited, > > unwanted e-mail, and since most of the postings are OT, many cavers I've > > heard from consider most postings spam. I'm pretty sure no one signed up for > > that. > > > > > > > > The purpose of TexasCavers.com <http://texascavers.com/> is to "keep > > cavers informed about the latest developments and current events in > > Texas and the rest of the caving world." With at least 2 dozen cavers > > who have already run away due to OT postings, and at least as many > > considering unsubscribing for the same reason, > > TexasCavers.com<http://texascavers.com/>is failing at its purpose. Many > > cavers are not getting news from > > TexasCaver.com <http://texascaver.com/> or sharing their news with it. > > That is truly a shame. > > > > > > > > George > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live. Start > > sharing!<http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008> > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! > > Search.<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51734/*http:/tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping> > > > >
