Our Mailing List... (Was: Re: [sumo] [off topic] Mitchell steroid report; Joshua's blatant misinformation)

[Lon Howard]

On Dec 14, 2007, at 7:05 AM, Robert Brown wrote:

> FWIW, I have a suggestion for handling the contentious
> discussions.  If a discussion looks like it's going to
> be a long one with lots of back and forth between two
> members, I suggest the two "combatants" take the
> discussion private until the argument is over.  At
> that point, the two may jointly issue a summary of the
> discussion to include whether they have reached
> agreement or agreed to disagree.  This will keep the
> list informed without inundating our in boxes with so
> much unnecessary negative commentary.  Everyone on the
> list is a civilized(?) adult(?) and we should all
> agree to treat each other in a civilized, adult
> manner.

This is a good idea, but it would require a list cop with authority  
to issue an order.  In practice, when things reach the meltdown  
stage, both 'sides' feel they are civilized and respectful, and that  
the other is disrespecting them, and so the name-calling begins.   
That's when it needs to taken private.  BTW, I see no difference  
between the name-calling here and on the Forum - the difference being  
that here, everyone is exposed to all posts, and somehow hitting  
'delete' seems to be something of a chore, while on the Forum you  
just keep scrolling down.  It's all the same to me, and I don't see  
why it should be a reason to exit the ML.

Without the 'cop,' I don't see any way to control it, other than just  
using 'delete.'  It's pretty easy to do, actually.  If the post is  
fairly long, a quick scan will tell you if it's something that's  
being rehashed by the same member ad infinitum, and/or if it's just  
another name-calling session.  Just hit 'delete' right then and  
there...don't even bother to read it.  I suspect many members are  
actually doing this, and haven't even considered leaving...they are  
the 'silent majority.'

Does this mean that I stop reading posts from the 'offending'  
members?  No, not at all.  As has been pointed out many times, all  
members have something beneficial to offer, and I welcome their  
thoughts too.  It's only that when things get out of control, it's  
not worth my time at that point.

As Dale said, I don't want the list to die, and there's no reason it  
should.  Just take a deep breath, and use the 'delete' key...it's a  
wonderful tool.

Lon Howard
Shomishuu