Killing the List

[Richard Oliver Snelson]

A list moderator is a fine idea. I've been part of several other list
with moderators. They simply worked behind the scene too eliminate chit
chat when the level got unbearable. 

We are faced here with individuals that  strike out when someone 
mentions 
trying to get this list back on the track and guidelines that built it.
They complain here's another garbage message we have to delete. Ok, so
this is another one. Add it to the other 65 off subject messages that
came at the same time. It's purpose is the build and work toward a more
professional list content. If you don't agree with this goal why are you
here? Start a list for your purpose.  

Rich

Robin Blankenship wrote:
> 
> John,
> 
> I've been reading the postings for just over a year. And, even in that time
> it has transitioned much in the way you describe. Perhaps, a hiatus for
> several months would create a need again for heavy duty tech discussions.
> Perhaps we are collectively out of ideas and questions right now. Perhaps a
> moderator to keep things focused would be useful. The current archives are
> enormous and a source of considerable value. But, even there, one must wade
> through redundant and superfluous verbage. On several occasions I have made
> a very brief statement of personal view and seen it followed by 60 or 70
> rebuttals, re-rebuttals, affirmations, etc., etc. Rather amusing process.
> But a major distraction for sure.
> 
> Given the widely diverse personal, political, linguistic, religious, musical
> and even professional attitudes and proficencies of its members, a Moderator
> really could benefit those who seek solid advice and knowledge here. Perhaps
> a senior member could propose an "agenda" of piano topics for the week or
> the month.
> 
> My late father used to remind me that every organization carries within
> itself the seeds of its own destruction. This list is far too valuable to
> the less experienced and mid-level tech to let it slip away.
> 
> Could you recommend some helpful solutions?
> 
> Thanks,
> Robin Blankenship
> Piano Technician and sometime bomb thrower
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Woodrow, John (Parramatta) <John.Woodrow@pil.com.au>
> To: 'Pianotech List' <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2000 7:53 PM
> Subject: Killing the List
> 
> > List,
> > I receive the list in digest form.  I logged onto my computer this morning
> > for the first time in 3 days and there were 26 digests of Pianotech list,
> > TWENTY-SIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
> >
> > I have watched guys like Bob B. and Ed Foote trying to reason with this
> > forum to stop sending non-technical postings, 'me-toos', and HTML garbage.
> > I one-hundred and ten percent agree with them and I am sure many others do
> > so as well.
> >
> > I have been following this list for about 5 years now, and can clearly
> > remember the 'good-old' days when 95% of posts were technical in nature
> and
> > we had just the odd joke or comment.  Every post was worth reading, and I
> > looked forward to each day's discussion.  Go back in the archives 3 or 4
> > years, any digest, and read the content and check out the name of the
> > contributors, impressive.  Now I can read 6 or 7 digests in a row and be
> > lucky to find anything of worth.  I am just on the point of considering
> that
> > there is no more value to me in this list.
> >
> > The reason I have bothered to spend the time writing this is because I
> once
> > considered this list to be the most valuable resource possible.  From this
> > list, or my own investigations that may have resulted from an idea raised
> > here, I would have to acknowledge that just about everything I know about
> > pianos is a result of this list.  So it saddens me no end to see this once
> > valuable resource reduced to little more than trivial social pages.
> >
> > I'll make a wish for Christmas ....... please Santa, return Pianotech list
> > back to the valuable resource for piano technicians that it once was.
> >
> > John Woodrow
> >
> >