radical remedy

[heidit at netbox.com]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., catherine at c... wrote:
> --- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., naama_gat at h... wrote:
> > Hi,
> > So, what do you think? Would it be too drastic a measure to close 
> the list to new members? 
> > What does (do?) the MOD squad think?
> > 
> > 
> > Naama, feeling like her favorite virtual place is sinking down in 
> quicksand...
> 
> I'm in two minds about this.  I'm a relative newbie myself (only 
been 
> on the list since March), but I feel as though it's much longer - 
> particularly as I've now met some of the other members

I'm with Catherine, possibly even more intensely.

I cannot begin to state how much I disagree with this idea. I would 
much prefer an age limit that bars anyone under 16 from joining the 
main list, if a decision is made to restrict membership in some way. 
Either that or moderating newbies for a 2 week period from the time 
they first post (which puts a major burden on the listadmins...but 
it's still a better option, IMHO)

Back in early February, the idea of closing the list to new members 
once we hit 900 or 1000 members was discussed. 

Okay, now that y'all have picked yourselves up off the floor from 
dead faints or extreme laughter, let me point a few important things, 
or rather, people, out, in addition to Catherine, who already named 
herself:

Barb Purdom, joined June 14, 2001
Jen From Ravenclaw (meboriqua at aol.com), joined late February
Joy, joined mid-March
Rebecca Bohners, joined mid-February
Christian Pengolodh, joined early-March
Magda Grantwich, joined mid-March
Jamieson Wolf Villeneuve, joined mid-March
Kristin (Alyeskakc), joined early April
Susan Hall, my counterpart in the UK, joined May 18
Arabella (of Sugarquill), joined early April
Dave Frankis, joined mid-April
Scott, who had a great time at the recent Oxford events, so I'm told, 
joined mid-April
Viola (Dreamwalk Blue author), joined mid-May
Doreen Rich, joined end of May 
Pigwidgeon37, joined early June
Maddy (aka Flourish), joined late June
prefectmarcus, joined late June
Anna Milton, joined early July
Jason Fraser, joined July 22
Amber, joined May 1
Haggridd, joined late April

All thse dates are based on the system - some of them might be 
rejoins, but most aren't


Compared to some of us, these people listed above are all relative 
newbies. But if we'd followed the initial idea to close the list to 
newbies early in the spring, we would've been bereft of their 
contributions. They may not've all said the right thing every time - 
some of us may skip over their posts every time.  But would it be 
right for this list to be without them? Would it be right to not have 
their contributions to the HP4GU Community? 

We would never have had the chance to know them! And we wouldn't even 
know what wonderful insights we were missing, chatting in our little 
circles over and over and over again.