Posting value, ages and genral comment (was: Responses ont he Main List)

[saitaina]

Steve wrote:

<However, I suspect the Moderator were hoping
that
the thread would eventually pull back on
track. >

I think we're still holding onto that hope.

<I think, though, that sometimes it's a
difficult judgement
call as to whether to shut-down, or move a
thread. >

Very, very difficult.  For example, if we
pull one thread but let one stay, we run the
risk of one going way off topic, one turning
into a flame war, or the people we move
flooding our inboxes with howlers.  We have
to balance the needs of the list with respect
for list members, adding in a dash of common
sense and hope that we make the right choice
in the end.

 Not to mention, there are thirty (more or
less) elves trying to make this decision at
once so we too seem to be ignoring things
when we're actually trying to figure out what
to do.  Please note that this applies to
everything we do, not just pulling lists.

<I remember when I first started and was
under Moderated status, and
even after Moderated status, I once accused
(although, I tried to be
polite) the Mods of being 'anally retentive
and obssessed' (really, I
did it in a polite way) for demanding such
ridged adherence to the
posting rules. >

Oh, you were one of those?  :o)

<Although, is there really
any point in reponding to a post that was
made in 2000?>

Reviving dead topics is a hobby in HPfGU's
worlds.  I fully support anyone who wants to
go back and revive dead topics so long as
they're not the gleam in Dumbledore's eyes
one (sorry, pet peeve of mine).  New faces,
new voices often have different views and
opinions which lead to interesting
conversation.

Kneasy wrote:

<BTW, there  was a post today wondering at
the ages of the posters;
it's crossed my mind too. >

Someone's probably mentioned this but there
is a poll near the main list that addresses
this question.  The average age, last time I
looked, was 18-25, but we do have younger
members.  I myself almost joined young (then
I waited a year and joined).

Heidi wrote:

<but there were discussionsin 2001, in 2002
and in 2003 about
closing the list to newbies>

Still ongoing.

As Dave has said though, lulls in posting
quality and volume happen, and have happened
for years, and as Heidi pointed out, the list
is ever changing.  Heck, I remember a time
before -OTC and -Movie (goddess, does anyone
remember HPfGU-Food?).  I would never give up
HPfGU, no matter what the change in
quality/volume because I've been out there in
the wilds of the HP fandom.

You guys think this is bad...go join some of
the other HP lists, and tell me when you can
translate the netspeak, bad plot theories
(and yes there are some worse ones then what
we come up with), the posting style that will
make you go cross eyed trying to figure out
what's being said, and so forth.

Give it time, as we all do.  It'll go up,
it'll go down...it may even go sideways, but
it'll still be the HPfGU we know and love.

Saitaina
Not speaking as an Admin Team member, but a
list member who happens to be on the Admin
Team (and if you think that's confusing you
should see what I first wrote)
****
"I laugh in the face of death...maybe not
laugh more like a snicker...a quiet snicker,
and I wouldn't do it directly in death's face
so, it's more like a quiet snicker behind
death's back. "

http://www.livejournal.com/users/saitaina

"No, one day I'm going to look back on all
this and plow face-first into a tree because
I was looking the wrong bloody way. And I'll
still be having a better day than I am
today."