listserv plans

[AKarab@aol.com]

I take such pleasure in reading up my mailbox when I get the
chance, and appreciate the access to the pianotech list and all the
bits, big and small, that I have gathered from you all.  Your collective
experience replacing action parts is invaluable to me since I would
never access the same volume of work, successes, and yes, errors. I
was glad to put faces to the names of some of you  while I was in
Albuquerque, but a couple of people said, "I haven't seen your
postings."  I didn't think much of it at first, because I_ have_ made
some postings.  And as a non-University- translate I pay for my time
on line tech- I am sensitive to the etiquette of labelling subject matter
(since I sort my box out that way and ignore some threads) and of
carrying on some pursuits of further information in private
conversations with other subscribers rather than "on the P.A."
Moreover, I meet with some delay in getting to my mailbox, and often
just as I am formulating a response, find someone else has already
clearly explained why what I would have said would be second best, _or_ has
said my piece and then some, and said it better too.

Such was the case for me in reading I.Stein's comments on listserv,
among his other points I second:

>A periodic posting explaining the use of subject lines (and other fine
>points of listserve etiquette) for the benefit of newcomers could be >very
helpful.

and then:

>Many separate and different levels of discussion can co-exist on the
>same list, as long as the subscribers understand the proper use of
>subject lines. There's no reason to have "advanced", "beginner" etc.
>listserves.

Yes, as I thought about the rumoured division of lists into those that
talked and those that didn't, or beginners and the advanced, I
wondered how you could possibly divide us up?  Would I be worthy?
Would I add in more messages to meet a monthly quota?  Would I
have to read those of others who were filling space for the same
reason?  What about that Kawai concert tech's simple tip Bill
Spurlock reiterated about a felt strip over the wippen windows to aide
in string/ hammer mating?  Was that beginners or advanced?

So as I drove about my business today, I thought up the brave
proposal of different subject areas to solve the size problem, (which
as it turned out, somebody else had already discussed.)   Then
realized it is really hard to seperate any of the topics, for (as it has
already been pointed out) they are all inter-related, and there I'd be
trying to subscribe to all the lists and meet all my quotas and
repeating things others had already thought of.  Yish!

>A proliferation of piano technology lists will lead to lots of multiple
>postings, disagreements as to what belongs on which list, threads
>that evolve away from the "official" subject matter of the list and in
> the long run to more e-mailbox clutter (especially for those who try
>to keep up with more than one list).

And if we can't even keep our subject headings straight, how in the
world will we train eachother to refer out messages to the right
subject list?

So I am glad to read that volume does not have to be an issue for listserv as
there are other locations available.

So far it seems that questions brought by beginners are handled by whoever's
mentor hormones are running high at the time.  Since there is no requirement
for response by any reader, I don't see how it is an inconvenience or burden,
and it certainly doesn't keep the cutting edge brains among you from churning
out the high intensity sustenance!

Judging from the volume landing in my mailbox, I can see how anyone less
eager to read it all would benefit from a digest or browsing option, and a
welcoming announcement to new subscribers as well as periodic broadcasts to
all could describe whatever options are available along those lines as well
as the latest in Mr./ Ms. Manners.

My thanks again to you all,

Audrey Karabinus,   Seattle