Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl00751)

Michelle:

I am signed up for listening-l which is the mail list for Krishnaji's
Teachings and I have seen the traffic issues like we are discussing here.
I is on the comeback trail. It is only the marginally interested
subscriber who signs off and goes away. The hard core are persistent and
stay. I think things are improving and it will all settled down, not
perhaps for the full satisfaction of everybody. May be 80-90%
satisfaction overall. BTW, this is *the* only game on Theosophy on
Internet and hence I am very optimistic. Also most of the heavy posters
are quite serious about what Theosophy can do for everybody. Just this
will make it survive and grow without any formal rules of etiquette.

	...doss

On Sun, 12 May 1996, Michelle Donald wrote:

> > >To Michelle and Doss:
> >
> > Don't you think you're generating a tempest in a teapot? It takes perhaps a
>
> NO I dont. Take note of the number of resignations from this list for
> a start! When a list is small and the traffic light it doesnt matter
> too much to most users if the noise ratio is high. But this list is
> now large and if its purpose is to provide a public forum for the
> discussion of theosophy and if we want people to lurk, participate and
> stay then we need to consider what is discussed.
>
> Practically speaking this is very much like the death many members of
> this list talk about happening to lodges - ironic isnt it?
>
> > half a second to delete a "one liner", or if you find one person does only
> > "one liners' you can filter them.There are a number of people on this board
>
> When it can be half of the messages at around 90 a day that's 45
> messages - which takes more than a second to:
> a open
> b read
> c delete
> What a waste! Ironically so many things wrong with TS organizations
> is that they dont get around to doing practical things and here we
> are wasting each others time on this stuff.
>
> > Basically, I fear that what you're actually thinking about is censorship of
> > content and that is a basic American "NO-NO". Who has the right to decide
>
> Firstly this isnt America - its the internet with its own philosphy
> called netiquette.
>
> This is a list to discuss Theosophy, and as I understand it the
> members of the list have the right to decide what is OK.
>
> If a lodge spent half is time talking about things other than
> Theosophy members could do one of three things:
>
> 1 leave the lodge
> 2 put up with it
> 3 encourage a return to the focus/ point of the group/lodge
>
> I have chosen to take option 3 and I am sure others agree, sadly many
> have taken option1 :-(
>
> AND WE ARE ALL POORER FOR THE LOSS.
>
> > what is "on-topic" and what is "off-topic". I know I don't, and I certainly
> > won't cede the right to anyone else. I strongly doubt if anyone on this
>
> Great, you "wont cede the right", what about the rights of the group,
> the purpose of us gathering together?
>
> > board will be broken financially by the cost of the telephone time it takes
> > to delete a "one-liner".
>
> I believe the point ....doss was making, is that many internet users
> (nothing to do with the board -  whatever that is) pay for time on
> line or for bandwidth used and hence off-topic messages cost that
> individual money. While that may not be an issue for some is is very
> real to others. We are part of this global community on this list.
>
> I believe that both ....doss and myself are coming from a
> consideration and compassionate point of view and I hope our comments
> are taken as such.
>
> BFN
> OOROO
> Michelle
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> michelle@zip.com.au
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