I think hanging out and just reading the posts is fine. I wouldn't vote to exclude anyone from the list based on level of participation.
I believe the archives search tool is another matter. I think that password protecting the archives would be nice. I know from experience in using it that there is information in it that I would rather not be known to the non-C&R public. just my 2-cents Jim Speaker -----Original Message----- From: Kent Lufkin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 3:51 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Lurkers I just found that the WAFF list now boasts over 250 email subscribers. I also learned that only about 50 subscribers post to the list on a regular basis. That means that roughly 80% of WAFF subscribers are so-called 'lurkers' - people who receive the list's email posts but who do not respond with posts of their own. In fairness, I'm sure many lurkers are novice fishers, fishers who don't feel that they have anything worth contributing, or are otherwise just plain shy. A number of lurkers are probably now-and-then fishers or are just too darned busy to post even an occasional email. However, I also know for a fact that a number of lurkers are fly shop employees or owners. They subscribe to the list, gathering valuable fishing information which they then feed to their customers as a 'value-added' perk. For whatever reason though, lurkers take but don't give anything back in return. I personally enjoy reading the posts to the list - even the off-subject ones, the newbie questions that we've all heard before (and asked ourselves once upon a time), the subjects I'm not interested in, and even the occasional spats between subscribers. I read 'em all, delete most, and respond to a few. Bottom line is that I've learned quite a bit more about flyfishing than I would have without subscribing to the list. But I'm beginning to wonder about all the wonderful information and advice we've been posting. It bothers me to think we've been innocently sharing it with others who contribute nothing back to the group in return. Not to mention the trove of past posts available in the searchable archives. Thanks to technology and the subscribers who've generously shared their skills, we now have the capability of 'unsubscribing' lurkers from the list. We can also password-protect the archives on our web site, making them available only to active subscribers. The questions though, is should we? The list is only as good as the information that subscribers post to it. If lurkers don't contribute to the group, their absence won't be felt. On the other hand, restricting the list smacks to me as just another form of elitism, the same kind of smug, 'I'm-better-than-you-are' attitude that others think characterize we flyfishers in general. What do you think? Kent Lufkin
