Date   : Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:49:58 +0100
From   : rick@... (Rick Murray)
Subject: Mailing list

Darren Grant wrote:

> The worst possible scenario is for the community to end up being
> divided by the existence of more than one list

Which is pretty much what I was saying...


>  We seem like quite a friendly bunch that even tolerate a lot of
 > strictly off topic conversations on subjects such as RM systems etc.

That's one of the best attributes. I've been some places where anything 
even slightly off-topic is stamped on, and it causes the list to 
stagnate as it doesn't allow for exploration. An example from here, my 
"Help!" message asking about Xubuntu on an SD card. Totally off-topic. 
This then went to consider the sort of wear levelling systems there are 
on flash memory devices. Still off topic, but may be of some relevance 
to people thinking of replacing harddiscs with SD/MMC cards.
Or, to put it another way - I bet there's more than a few Master Compact 
machines out in the wild with duff NVRAM EEPROMs...

Also, you're right that there's no pointless flamewar situation going 
on. But, then, being owners of and a mailing list about the best spec'd 
8 bit home microcomputer ever put into general circulation, we've got 
nothing to flame about! :-)


> I think that greater effort needs to go into resolving the situation
> properly,

There's only one person that can do anything specific. Maybe this 
explains all the messages flying around on the subject - we subscribers 
are, ultimately, powerless. [*]


> when really It is not such a big issue

I didn't expect this sort of response either. Maybe it is a bigger issue 
after all? Look through the archives for how many "drat! reposted!" bits 
you can see at the top of messages, thus indicating its an ongoing thing 
from way back when.


 > If the list moves I think just setting up alternatives and seeing who
> joins is not the answer,

Certainly. Right now we have one alternative. What if Rob decides he can 
set up a better list? Or John K, or you... Suddenly it's chaos theory in 
action - entropy will increase exponentially, and it will soon settle 
into the choas-into-organisation as it is supposed to... in other words, 
the BBC mailing list (in any form) would largely cease to exist.

It has to be an organised move of everything, or nothing at all. And 
that would obviously have to include all the list lurkers.


> Perhaps I'll call my list coup d'?tat,

Mmmm... all these Frenchisms entering our language (brownie points for 
the accent, BTW! :-) ).
I read the other day some programme on TV being described as "Grand 
Guignol". This must be the in phrase as I've heard it twice recently. 
Well, Guignols to me are a French programme with latex puppets that 
makes Spitting Image look docile. So I Wiki'd the phrase. Quote: "The 
name is often used as a general term for graphic, amoral horror 
entertainment." Not how I'd describe the programme being defined. Hell, 
I think "The Princess Bride" was called this by somebody - like, huh?


> what will people call their lists I wonder ?

I've already mentioned mine - dokidoki (doe-kee-doe-kee) or ????


Best wishes,

Rick.


* - not completely, we COULD move, I am aware of that.
     but we are powerless to effect any alteration of the
     server's behaviour and configuration.

-- 
Rick Murray, eeePC901 & ADSL WiFI'd into it, all ETLAs!
BBC B: DNFS, 2 x 5.25" floppies, EPROM prog, Acorn TTX
E01S FileStore, A3000/A5000/RiscPC/various PCs/blahblah...
>> TO PRIVATE MAIL ME, REMOVE [BBC-Micro] FROM SUBJECT <<