FAQ status and the same old same old

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 1637

Hi:

Vicki Merriman wrote:

> --- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Joywitch " <joym999 at a...> wrote:
> >But I have been > thinking lately about how the same questions pop
> >up over and over and > over and over again, and it sure would be
> >nice to be sure that next > time someone asks about that same old
> >tired topic we will just be > able to say -- FAQ #37
>
>
> Vicki said: I still maintain that the best way to not stifle free
> discussion and thought is to simply ignore any question that one has
> seen over and over again.  There may be others on the list who want to
> enjoy
> rethinking and re-evaluating.

Vicki & others --

The last thing I want to do is stifle free discussion.  Here's how I see
the purpose of the FAQs that we're creating.  First, they can be a
resource for new members to see what's already been discussed about a
particular topic.  This may stimulate them to think of new angles or
theories.  Seeing our collective discussions to date on a given topic
summarized in one neat place may also stimulate our long-standing
members to do the same thing.  Second, it can be a convenient place to
send members who have a very specific question.  The URL to the FAQs
will be in the introductory message that new members receive (yeah, I
know I still need to write that, even though there are no FAQs at the
moment).

I don't think that just "ignoring" a new member who poses a question
that's been discussed over & over & over again is very friendly really
-- not if everyone just ignores that person anyway.  It seems to me that
it would overall be more friendly & welcoming to post the URL to the
relevant FAQ that would answer their question rather than ignoring
them.  Then, as I said above, they can come back to the main group &
perhaps pose a completely new twist on our old discussions.

I absolutely agree that raising similar questions can give all our
members a chance to rethink & re-evaluate the arguments & theories, but
having the FAQs available puts *everyone* on equal footing (those who've
been around since the day the Club was founded and those who just joined
yesterday).

But, I did want to emphasize that I at least am completely against
stifling free discussion (as long as it's ON-TOPIC that is).
Discussions that devolve into completely off-topic discussions should
continue to be taken off-list.  <g>

Penny



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