Not reading all posts in a thread

[Dicentra spectabilis]

--- In HPFGU-Feedback at yahoogroups.com, SnapesSlytherin at a... wrote:

>>> Is there any way that this can be stopped?  Like, a reminder once
a month or something?  I only mention this because it just happened
today with the "Wizard to Ghost" thread.  I quoted a page and then a
few posts later a different person quoted the same thing I did,
obviously not having read what I wrote.  This could just be a pet
peeve of mine though.<<<


The List Elves *could* prevent this from happening if they did the
following:

• Put everyone on permanent moderated status.

• Check every pending message to make sure it doesn't re-introduce a
topic that has been recently introduced. 

• Formulate a policy to determine what "recently introduced" means
(after weeks of haggling backstage).

• When a post re-introduces a topic too soon, send it back with a note
saying "read the @#%& list before posting," though not in those exact
words.

• Cope with the influx of grovelling apologies/nasty retorts to above
message.


So you see, it *would* be possible, but only if we Elves were equipped
with Time Turners and copious amounts of antacids.  The MoM isn't
likely to supply the former, and we already overdose on the latter as
it is.

I don't think you're the only one who is bugged by it, Oryomai.  This
kind of thing has been happening ever since the list's inception, and
people complain about it from time to time (List Elves included). 
It's especially infuriating when you post something you think is
devastatingly clever or interesting, no one responds, then two weeks
later someone else brings up the same point and it starts huge thread.  

It's just one of those things that happens on a discussion list.  You
can yell and shake your fists at the screen when it happens to you,
but beyond that, there's nothing else you can do.

A gentle reminder from ADMIN wouldn't hurt.  Trouble is, the people
who don't read the list before posting don't read ADMINs, either. :D

--Dicentra, speaking unofficially