5 Posts per day limit

[Jen Reese]

Jordan:
> OK, so there is one. Can anyone explain to me what the problem is
> if someone posts six or seven messages a day, even if it's _every_
> day,as long as they're all worthwhile?
 
> Especially if the alternative is that they post all the same
> contentin two or three long messages that mix stuff about multiple
> subjects -it seems like in that case it creates more work and 
> breaks threading for no apparent benefit.

Jen: Just writing in as a list member since 2003. I don't know when 
you started Random, but I'm thinking it was fairly recent. Just a 
little bit of history. After OOTP the list went through this period 
where every day for weeks on end, I kid you not, there were the same 
debates over and over ad nauseum about Snape (most often his 
teaching or Occlumency) and the abuse issue with the Dursleys. 
Typically a handful of people would argue the same points daily, 
trying to persuade each other of the their 'truth'. Posts from 
individuals would number way over 5 by the time each day was done 
and you can probably guess the outcome--no one persuaded anyone else 
of ANYTHING. Other issues got crowded out or people simply stopped 
posting b/c the list became so negative and, in my opinion, boring.

In my experience unlimited posting promotes unlimited arguing and 
the utopian ideal of 6-7 'worthwhile posts' won't be met. To me it 
seems almost impossible to write 6-7 truly substantive posts a day 
because my criteria is very high for what that means: Constructing a 
position using canon quotes or references which are woven into the 
arguments, addressing multiple POV's from different posters on the 
thread, and actually have something to add that is a different 
perspective. 

Now, do I think all posts need to meet that criteria? No way. We 
need to have fun too, and that's why 5 posts a day allows for some 
really substantive posts and some bits here and there. Frankly, no 
matter how much I enjoy certain posters NO one, myself included, is 
enjoyable after 5 posts a day. People just get tired of seeing your 
name in my opinion. 

And lest you think I want to change your mind--I don't!! I'm just 
saying when you've been here day after day, year after year, and 
seen what causes some of these rules to be put in place, it will 
definitely help in the understanding deparment. Many of the rules 
are long before my time, but I'll bet they all came because multiple 
members were tearing their hair out over some annoying problem 
rather than the whim of elves or whatever you many think (not sure). 

OK, enough from me. I wrote one post here and one on main and 
already I'm worn out for the day. If you can come up with stuff for 
6-7 that's pretty amazing.

Jen Reese, recovering list member from the great Snape debates of 
what, 2004?