[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Main List Problems

[Lita]

On 8/19/03 7:47 PM, "stardancerofas" <glcherry at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> What are you prepared to do? What can we do about the Main List
> Problem?

Well, right now, I think that all the people participating in the thread are
prepared to offer constructive solutions and discuss them--which is really
the first step. Many people have offered to help out and have even offered
their services as list elves. It's not like this is a thread where everyone
is just complaining without offering any solutions or is not willing to be
proactive.

> I really do believe that it will calm down. I do believe that
> people will...eventually....get around to reading all the rules, and
> following them. If they don't if they keep doing what they are doing,
> people will not respond to them. It's simply a matter of time.

I will have to respectfully disagree on this, though. I don't think just
sitting back and doing nothing will in any way help the situation. Why would
people get around the reading the rules after they've already been
participating? Tolerating posters breaking the rules gives the impression
that the rules don't matter. I find it highly unlikely that rule-breaking
posters are going to go "oh, I guess I should read the rules and follow them
now" at some point in the future.

I disagree with the idea that the rule-breakers will want to learn the rules
because they won't get responses to their posts. The thing is, there's
simply too many of the rule-breakers for that to happen--it will simply go
on as it has been, with the many rule-breakers responding to each other.

What needs to happen is that those posters breaking the rules need to know
that 1.) the list has rules and 2.) the list rules have to be followed. As
someone who's moderated and owned large mailing lists, I think that the only
way this is going to happen is through guidance and strong, proactive
moderation. My experience tells me that it's not just going to magically fix
itself.

I really liked the idea of closing the list for a short period of time--say,
a week. This would allow the mods to regroup. It would also send a strong
message to the list that many of the current posting behaviors are not
acceptable. This would also give time for the moderators to make something
of a fresh start.

I also liked the idea of not allowing new members to post at first (I think
two weeks was the number I saw). That will cut down on the over-enthusiasm,
IMO. Frankly, I think it will also turn off those individuals who subscribe
and want to participate with no intention of reading or following the rules.
But those who really want to participate in the reasoned, intelligent
discussion that HPforGrownUps is known for will certainly be willing to
stick around. It can be a period for new members to lurk and become familiar
with the rules. (And it's technically possible, as well--there is an option
in YahooGroups that allows you to disable posting by specific members. I
think the initial moderated posting status should still be employed--this
would then be a time for new members to become accustomed to posting on the
list.

For those members that are already posting and breaking the rules, I think
the only way to deal with that is with strong moderation--something like a
warning first, and placement on moderation after a second offense. The
messages from those on moderated status would have to be gone over to keep
offenses from reaching the list. There's some logistical issues that would
have to be worked out (for example, making sure people only got a warning
from one elf, keeping track of who has warnings, etc.). It's doable, but it
will take a lot of work and will probably require some more list elves. :)
But I really think that it can, and should, be done--or, at the least,
*something* has to be done.

For now, I'll add my name to those willing to become a list elf. :) I've
been a member for almost a year, and while I don't post much, I've been
really distressed at the downturn in quality of the main list. I'm willing
to help however possible.

Lita