Post by thread:Off Topic Stuff

-----Original Message----- From: Reginald Neale <spam_OUTnealeTakeThisOuTSERVTECH.COM> To: .....PICLISTKILLspam@spam@MITVMA.MIT.EDU <PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Date: Monday, January 25, 1999 8:44 AM Subject: Re: OT: getting on {Quote hidden}>>Hi all, >> >>I am wondering! What is the average age of piclist subscribers? >>I usually hear stories about the 70s, which unfortunately I was still a >>baby. >> >>BTW, I am still 26 :). >> >>regards, >>Reggie A month ago - the day after Christmas - when the piclist was quiet and its digest length small, I got soundly criticised for daring to ask an 'off topic' item about problems programming an Atmel uC. So I am a bit sensitive to definitely off-topic stuff like the above, especially as the person who heaped shit on me at that time has not said 'boo'. I love to read the electronics related threads. They are a true education. But it annoys me to start to read and then have to PgDn over a seemingly increasing amount of completely OT items in which I have not the slightest interest. 2. If you have stayed with me so far I will give my observations about moderated groups. I get several. The ones with no moderation are the worst; information content per posting is very low. Personal abuse & shouting are the norm. While the one which is ruthlessly moderated is the best. In the Healthfraud newsgroup medically qualified doctors, PhD's and chiropractors are coexisting in a rational, adult debate about HF, chiropractic and its 'scientific' base. (Even I was surprised when a doctor who made some jokes about penis length in a debate on circumcision last week was summarily dismissed from the list.) But almost every post is a gem of information about healthfraud and related topics. What has this to do with this list. I would just propose to the owner of the list that a bit more regulation of non-electronic OT items may increase the value of the list to all readers. regards, Peter ------------------------------------------------- Peter J. Crowcroft DIY ELECTRONICS (HK) Ltd PO Box 88458, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong Voice: 852-2720 0255 Fax: 852-2725 0610 Web: http://kitsrus.com -------------------------------------------------

Since I was one of the people who complained at that point (I do not know if you were referring to me in your post today), I just want to point out that I did not specifically object to your posting of an OT question, what I objected to was your explicit statement that PICLIST had become "a defacto Atmel list". I recall saying that I thought that, had you asked the Atmel question without that statement, your question would have been politely answered and there would have been no such firestorm. (I also went on to try to market the red herring about contributers leaving the list because of a greater degree of OT traffic, and I will say that I was convinced by your objection that this was an invalid argument.) One of the most remarkable things about PICLIST, I believe, is the high degree of tolerance, and, at times, genuine warmth exhibited by its readership. This is a much friendlier place to be than, say, Slashdot, and I am thankful for its existance; I learn a great deal here, including from many of the OT threads. The OT stuff probably does go too far on occasion, but I must say that, in my recollection, in virtually all cases that someone has complained about an OT thread the thread stopped shortly thereafter, just as I imagine that the "how old am I" thread will following your complaint. Hopefully no one will claim that, on the basis of the acceptance of this thread so far, that this is now a defacto age-disclosure list.. :-) Overall, I think that we're a remarkably well-behaved group, even if, on occasion, somewhat inconsistant or cranky. Thank you, Peter, for helping to keep this on an even keel. --Bob On Wed, Jan 27, 1999 at 11:05:46PM +1100, Peter Crowcroft wrote: > > A month ago - the day after Christmas - when the piclist was quiet and its > digest length small, I got soundly criticised for daring to ask an 'off > topic' item about problems programming an Atmel uC. ... > > ------------------------------------------------- > Peter J. Crowcroft DIY ELECTRONICS (HK) Ltd > PO Box 88458, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong > Voice: 852-2720 0255 Fax: 852-2725 0610 > Web: http://kitsrus.com > ------------------------------------------------- -- ============================================================ Bob Drzyzgula It's not a problem .....bobKILLspam.....drzyzgula.org until something bad happens ============================================================

>Reginald Neale <EraseMEnealespam_OUTTakeThisOuTSERVTECH.COM> wrote: >I love to read the electronics related threads. They are a true education. >But it annoys me to start to read and then have to PgDn over a seemingly >increasing amount of completely OT items in which I have not the slightest >interest. I for one enjoy reading a lot of the [OT] posts as they are what makes the PICLIST a community of people sharing ideas, rather than being just a list of code postings. The use of [OT] in the subject line allows you to set your mail filters to send all OT messages to another mailbox or straight to the trash so you never have to see these messages if you don't want to. It's your choice. {Quote hidden}>2. If you have stayed with me so far I will give my observations about >moderated groups. I get several. The ones with no moderation are the worst; >information content per posting is very low. Personal abuse & shouting are >the norm. While the one which is ruthlessly moderated is the best. In the >Healthfraud newsgroup medically qualified doctors, PhD's and chiropractors >are coexisting in a rational, adult debate about HF, chiropractic and its >'scientific' base. (Even I was surprised when a doctor who made some jokes >about penis length in a debate on circumcision last week was summarily >dismissed from the list.) But almost every post is a gem of information >about healthfraud and related topics. I disagree with you totally on this one. The PICLIST is unmoderated and all the people on it are remarkably friendly and helpful. There is plenty of useful stuff here and flames are few and far between. I would much rather have a free exchange of ideas and information than having someone else decide for me what was fit to read. Maris