ADMIN: Heavy Volume of Email on this List

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 11446

Hi --

cad2 at hotmail.com wrote:

> I belong to (far too) many lists on yahoogroups and elsewhere.  Once
> the list gets to a  certain size, the moderators usually set down
> some "large list" rules like not responding to a post with one
> word "Exactly!" or "Me, too!" etc...  For those who might read digest
> mode, its extrememly difficult to wade through dozens of posts where
> 90% is quoted material from another lister and 10% is original
> thought.

These are actually "rules" that we've implemented (or reiterated more
strongly) recently.  They are in the Welcome Message and in the
Netiquette message for the group, along with several other suggestions
that are aimed at keeping message volume down and the digests readable
(somewhat).  I must confess that I think the digests generated by this
group must be terribly hard to read, but then again, I don't care for
digest mode at all.

If you have only skimmed (or ignored!) the Welcome Message, Netiquette
Message and other Admin messages of late, please do take an opportunity
to review these messages.

Highlights --

SUBJECT HEADINGS  -- If everyone is consistently looking at their
subject headings & keeping them relevant, this will help others to
decide what to read, skim or delete.

COMBINING POSTS -- We appreciate the concern for the FAQ Team in keeping
"conversation threads" confined to separate messages.  However, if your
response to 3-4 different message is going to be relatively brief on all
4 counts, we'd rather you just clearly label the subject heading with 4
topics & combine them into one post.

Combine, combine, combine -- wherever possible.

OFF-TOPIC POSTS -- We are probably going to crack down much more readily
on this issue than we have in the past, so please be mindful of the
Off-Topic Rules for the group.  We'd prefer to not see them *at all*
during times of high traffic (but if you feel compelled, by all means
label it OT in the subject heading).

The Moderator Team is also discussing several other avenues to try and
get the volume under control.  We are all too aware that the membership
spike this month and various other factors have led to an extremely high
message volume.  Simon posted an analysis of messages posted this month
to the Moderator group earlier this month.  The message volume was high
before the salon.com piece, but it really shows a sharp upturn right
after that article was released.  We're thrilled with our new members,
but we do recognize that some things are going to need to be addressed
soon.

Please continue to send any suggestions that you have to the Moderator
Team at:

HPforGrownups-owner at yahoogroups.com

Messages to the above are received by all 5 moderators.  We may not
always respond personally, but trust me that your suggestions are being
debated and considered.

We will hopefully have additional message-reducing measures to announce
soon -- so stay tuned!

Penny
The Moderator Team



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