[luau] IMPORTANT - Upcoming List Policy

[Robert Green]

--- Warren Togami <warren at togami.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 2002-09-04 at 09:19, Gary Sublett wrote:
> > 
> > Frankly, I am more troubled by the lack of trimming and off topic
> > threads than the unsubstantiated controversial comments.
> > 
> 
> Thank you for your polite suggestion.  I will need to look into
> that
> later today.
> 
> I am in agreement that lack of trimming and off topic posts are a
> problem.
> 
> Regarding unsubstantiated posts, I do not want to censor anyone.  I
> find
> it annoying when people make assertions without evidence... but
> yeah,
> this shouldn't be a hard rule... perhaps just strongly suggested.


I agree with the overall ideas of the policy that was posted before,
but I think some of it is probably worded too strongly.

In my opinion, the lack of trimming is a GLARING problem that has
been ongoing with this list (and the previous incarnation of it) as
far back as I can recall, clear back to when LUAU had active
meetings. It has been brought up probably 3 to 4 times a year, and
generally there is improvement, although there are some folks who
seem to be chronically lazy about not trimming posts. 

Regarding the off-topic posts, I think a minor degree of straying is
OK if it doesn't mess up the signal-noise ratio too much. Generally
it hasn't struck me as being excessive yet, with 1 or 2 minor
exceptions.

The unsubstantiated bashing and related posts are definately not a
good thing, but I really don't think censorship is the answer --
again, though, there seem to be people who take every possible
opportunity to answer every question with "that's the big problem
with (insert OS or application name here) and you should switch to
(their pet application / OS).

I think its all well and good to suggest alternatives programs or
platforms, but to use cars as an analogy, some people take it to the
point of suggesting you go get a Toyota when you are only asking how
to change the oil in a Honda. Personally, I have felt that those
types of responses are as bad as being off topic, since they're a
waste of bandwidth, since it isn't a constructive answer to
somebody's legitimate question. If it's not a constructive response,
why would you want to send it out to the whole list? 

Just my 2 cents on the matter -- I guess the bottom line is, a new
policy is good, as long as it is an "encouraged" one and not a
rigidly enforced one. Useful information, flexibility and fun for all
should be the focus of things.

Aloha,

Rob

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