[HPFGU-Feedback] Re: 5 Posts per day limit

[Susan Albrecht]

Now Tonya stepping up to the opinion plate:
>>> I remember sometime a few years ago that there was worry that the list 
would explode after a book came out then there was a posting restriction put in place, 
which seemed to work well.  Maybe if the posting lift works we could bring it back 
after JRK updates her web page, or when she has speaking engagements and book releases. <<<

SSSusan says:
You're right, Tonya.  This is what I was mentioning yesterday -- we went to 3 posts per day after what happened with OotP's release, in anticipation of HBP's release (and for other reasons, such as overall posting volume; complaints of not being able to keep up; members posting as many as 12-15 times a day, followed by complaints of people dominating the list; concerns about post quality; etc.)  Then it was raised to 5 per day a few months ago, which is where we stand now.

I know that I just mentioned I'm a fan of the posting limit -- and I am.  However, I am also intrigued by this particular possibility Tonya raises, that rather than just dispensing with the limit altogether, there might be *periods* of at least trying to go without one, interspersed with periods when the Admin Team determines that posting volume has or is likely to go through the roof and that limits are necessary for awhile (website updates, new canon, huge upsurge in membership such as we just saw with Yahoo!Groups featuring us).  My gut reaction is that this would be do-able for staff.  (Usual disclaimer:  I speak for myself there, not for the List Admin Team!)


Tonya:
>>> I do think that there are people who will jump in the middle of a thread and get excited 
(understandably) and post without reading the full thread-- these folks just need to learn to exercise some
control on their excitement (something that has taken me years to learn) and
read the whole thread and before they post.  <<<

SSSusan:
This is actually one of the reasons why I like a posting limit.  I think that, knowing there is a limit, a person is more likely to WAIT and see what has been said in the thread, so as not to "use up" a post on a point already made (vs. not caring if it has been made because there's no limit to how much they can post)... and also more likely to see if there is more than one post in the thread s/he can respond to in one post.  I know not everyone agrees, but I think doing that kind of synthesis is a *good* thing.  (I know the response will not show up in the thread of *every* post responded to, but it *will* show up in at least one, provided the person hits "Reply" to one of them.  And I personally like the coming together of several related thoughts and points on that one topic and find that more useful than the loss of a "perfect" threading record.)

Siriusly Snapey Susan