Simon Coles wrote:
>
> Bob, and everyone.
>
> I haven't been following the discussion in detail, mainly because so
> little on PARKINSN is interesting these days.
>
> As is probably well known I have been concerned about the tone of the
> list for some time. Yes, the list has a sense of "community", but
> that is at the expense of people who can't share that community's
> values - be it in terms of mail volume, subject matter, or opinions
> that are expressed.
>
> The list has stayed broadly static in numbers over the past few
> years, despite a massive increase in the number of people on The
> Internet. I strongly suspect a large number of people are being
> driven off the list by a vocal minority who don't feel the need to
> consider the impact of their actions. As a result, thousands of
> people are failing to benefit from the wisdom and help that can come
> from this list when it is at its best.
>
> If people want a community list, then let's have one - SPARKLE is one
> example. Lets have more than one - I'll host as many as there are
> volunteers to run them.
>
good idea
thanks for the generous offer
maybe we are maxxed out at 1900
can't please all the people all the time
possibly just reducing size (division) will help
there are a number of sub-groups possible
it may be nice to 'shop around' -- ought to do that anyway
> I'm not judging the applicability of any subject matter, all I'm
> asking for is for PARKINSN to focus on Parkinson's, which will make
> it useful to more people. Take all the other stuff onto other lists,
> which can be closely allied to PARKINSN, and part of the community.
excuse me while i digress--actually go parallel--
i belonged to a happy list serve group (ARTMETAL)
before i joined PARKINSN
i mostly lurked and learned on ARTMETAL
occasionally asked questions
what made ARTMETAL a happy group?
what i observed was--
50 posts per day about whatever
mutual respect for all posters--embracing diversity
no moderator
subject headers like YAK and NON-METAL and LIST and HUMOR...
offensive language was met with firm replies that it was a family group
a few vocal posters that took responsibility for tone of group
a few experts that were there to support technically
older artists as mentors--been there done that
sometimes committees were voluntarily formed
to solve problems
they had an accompanying website
that hosted non-commercial display of art
we needed graphics a lot--but, couldn't put it in e-mail
every thursday evening there was a web based chat
an expert was found to do a presentation
and answer questions on art or technique
or a topic for each chat
and someone would moderate/keep on topic
--all scheduled on the website calendar
also, non-subscribed visitors to the website could post on a forum there
and sometimes these were forwarded to the group if it was an interesting challenge
edited archives were available for the website
non-edited for the list serve
off list support was frequent
i've probably missed something
amazing
it can be done
>
> Its just as easy to subscribe to one more list as it was to subscribe
> to PARKINSN in the first place (well, probably easier), and we can
> regularly advertise the other lists on PARKINSN. This will give
> people a choice of what they get in their inbox.
>
> In this way the community can grow, become stronger, and more healthy.
>
> The alternative is PARKINSN will wither and die, a victim of its own
> success, and the selfishness of a minority. And we will *all* be the
> poorer for it.
>
> >I will
> >remain here for the next few days, waiting for people to *publicly*
> >post their true feelings about the points that I have been trying to
> >make (about offensive postings under the guise of "jokes").
>
> Count my vote.
>
> > Unless I
> >see a majority of this List standing in support of sensitivity, I will
> >leave this List.
> >
> >Maybe my usefulness is gone, anyway.
>
> This, ladies and gentlemen, typifies the challenge facing PARKINSN.
> Why should anyone who wants to contribute to Parkinson's Disease be
> involved with a list that's long since got off track? What will
> PARKINSN be when the experts that have stuck it out so far have left?
>
> What's the point of an archive of the list when 95% of the posts are
> junk? Why should I put the effort into trying to find the useful
> stuff in the archive if no one can be bothered to stick to the
> subject matter?
>
> I repeat my offer to host any PD related mailing list - if you think
> there's a niche not being served, and are willing to help run it,
> drop me a mail.
>
> Simon
> --
> --------- My opinions are my own, NIP's opinions are theirs ----------
> Simon J. Coles Email: [log in to unmask]
> New Information Paradigms Work Phone: +44 1344 753703
> http://www.nipltd.com/ Work Fax: +44 1344 753742
> =============== Life is too precious to take seriously ===============
--
Ray Strand
Prairie Sky Design
-----------------( on the Edge of the Prairie Abyss )---------------
when the sky is clear
the ground is visible
48/dx PD 2 yrs/40? onset/retired
