Problem of list vol (was No responses on the main list )

[heiditandy]

 Carolyn wrote:
> Its a problem that a lot of people are experiencing. It actually 
does 
> need addressing, because otherwise the character of the list will 
be 
> permanently damaged, IMO. <snip>

Carolyn - I don't want to sound dismissive, and I hope that what I 
am about to say doesn't sound that way, but people have been saying 
that for *years*. Right now, the main list is very different, and 
yet no different, than the way it looked when I first joined HPfGU 
over three years ago. Damaged? I don't think that's a fair way to 
look at it - if you go back and look at the posts at 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/messages/1, you'll see a 
universe that's somewhate recognizable, but in a way, it's not. 

I remember the list before the proliferation of acronyms. I remember 
the list before coming up with a New and Unifying Theory was the be-
all-and-end-all of disucssion. I remember the list when one was 
allowed to use an original narrative - or even fanfiction to make a 
point about something in canon. And oh, do I remember the first 
volleys in the ship debates (pretty much Oct-Nov, 2000). 

The list is a changing animal, and people have a tendency to think 
that The Way It Was When They Joined Or First Became Involved is how 
it should be - and sometimes they're right, and sometimes, things 
need to develop and grow and yes, they change. 

Now, I haven't been on the mod side of things on this list in over a 
year - but there were discussionsin 2001, in 2002 and in 2003 about 
closing the list to newbies; as it stands now, newbies can't post to 
the list without having their first posts screened by a mod. That 
wasn't the way things were three years ago - or even two. But it's 
the way things are now, and it's caused a change in how the list is. 

Then Jim chimed in and said: 
> I joined almost 2 years ago and only started posting in the last 6-
8 
> months or so.  Unfortunately, I have now stopped reading regularly 
as 
> I just can't keep up with the volume and the discussions seem to 
be 
> revolving with very little new thought.  Currently, I come back to 
> research a topic I have questions or ideas about and when I have a 
> few spare hours (LOL).  There is a wealth of knowledge in the 
> archives if you can get through the search engine.
> 
> The HPfGU discussion board was my first HP site.  As I have 
> progressed in my obsession, I have found other formats that 
enhanced 
> my study and understanding.  Perhaps one of these could help solve 
> the volume crisis.
> 
> Another format is to subdivide the topics into separate discussion 
> boards.  Snape, Harry, Molly, Quidditch, Hogwarts, magical 
creatures, 
> FILK, SHIP, JKR interviews and appearances, etc
  Then we can 
review 
> the subject we are most interested in.  Divide and concur, I mean 
> conquer. ;-)

There are other forums in the fandom that do things this way - it's 
much more organic and natural on a message board than it is on a 
mailing list. My own site, FictionAlley, has forums for discussion 
of every character 
(http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/forumdisplay.php
?s=&forumid=11), book 
(http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/forumdisplay.php
?s=&forumid=10), interview 
(http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/forumdisplay.php
?s=&forumid=38), SHIP 
(http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/forumdisplay.php
?s=&forumid=36) or FILK 
(http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/forumdisplay.php
?s=&forumid=33 although admittedly, the area for filks has an 
abundance of youthfulness about it; all filks, however, are 
appreciated!). Some people find the subdivision of concepts a handy 
way to engage in discussion, and among the million-plus posts, a 
wide range of discussions are taking place. 

But it's all about, really, how you like to read and discuss. I've 
always enjoyed turning arguments into stories, but others prefer to 
use traditional debate and forensic league styles 
(http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/forumdisplay.php
?s=&forumid=164). 


heidi