The State of the List Questionaire - Oct 2007

[potioncat]

> ********************************************************************
> 
> 1. What has been your general impression of the list since the
> release of DH?

Potioncat:
DH hit a nerve in the readership. People seem to lovee it, hate it or 
struggle with it. Many of the posts are emotion-based 
and 'discussion' seems to be more difficult than before. As difficult 
as it is to debate opinions, it's almost impossible to have a 
dicussion on emotions. 
> 
> 
> 2. Have you been posting since the release? Less than, as much as, 
or
> more than you did before the release? If there is a change, what has
> caused you to change? If you haven't been posting at all, or been
> posting rarely, why do you think that is?

Potioncat:
I took a break from the list before DH came out. So, assuming my 
habits before the break, I'd say I'm posting less. Part of it is that 
there's nothing to predict or anticipate--and partly that the topics 
now are strongly opinionated. Which is OK, as long as free discussion 
is encouraged by all. (And partly that RL seems more pressing than it 
used to be.)
> 
> 
> 3. Are you happy with the way the list is handled and/or the way 
> things are going at present? If you feel some action should be 
taken by the elves, what would you suggest? What suggestions would 
you give members in general to improve the list? What, if anything, 
have you tried to improve the list?

Potioncat:
Oh, bless you Elves, but what can you do? From time to time you come 
in to remind folk to play nice. It's up the folk, aint it?

It would help if when each of us post, whether to vent or to discuss, 
that we write something someone can comment on. Or that at least, we 
expect comments. And it would be helpful if the next person keeps it 
unpersonal (impersonal?). "I hate chocolate." might get "You idiot! 
How can you hate chocolate? It's the best flavor in the world." or it 
might get, "I love chocolate. Why don't you like it?" but it would 
have been better to say, "I hate chocolate; it gives me hives." 
Actually, commenting on chocolate would be most unwise, as the elves 
would be duty bound to move your post as not being canon related. 
However, you could say, "I would hate to be Harry and to have to eat 
all that chocolate in PoA."

Well, I've started a few light-hearted threads. I've posted a 
few, "now, now, let's all have some tea..." sort of posts.

As for suggestions, I wonder if we need some new tags--or whatever 
you call them. You know, like SHIP or T-BAY warnings.

I'd also like to suggest that as we post to threads we take a moment 
to see if the heading should be tweaked a bit. It's very interesting 
how much a topic can change over a few posts. It's difficult to 
follow one line of the thread if the heading to all the now disimilar 
posts are the same. (I cannot navigate the list of posts that are 
suppose to be the thread that show up under each post.)
> 
> 
> 4. Now that we have all seven books and the speculation is over,
> what do you see as the purpose of this list? What would you
> imagine/want to see happening on the list a year from now?

The purpose, I think is procreation. And that doesn't have to be fun--
-ask anyone who's ever gone through medically assisted fertility 
efforts. Oh, I'm so sorry. Wrong thread.

The purpose is spirited discussion, and there's still lots to 
discuss. I'd like us all to be free to talk about our thoughts, 
insights, feelings, whatever...
 

A year from now? Well, looks like we'll be discussing the latest 
tidbit from a JKR interview. I think the list will be very slow by 
then. I'd like to think that as a group we could have reunions or 
something. Hey gang, this is senior year. We're all about to go our 
separate ways. Better exchange addresses now, and enjoy the last 
semester while it's still going on.

I appreciate the work done by the List-Elves. This has always been a 
great place to discuss, debate, laugh, cry. We members can back off, 
and even leave if we want to, but you elves have to show up for duty, 
read the posts and try to keep up. 

A box of Honeydukes assorted flavors for you all---just in case you 
don't like chocolate.
Potioncat/Kathy