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Dennis Greene wrote: > > In the 9 months in which I have been a member of this > list, the 'banter/list split' debate has come to a head twice > and has been alive and well and living under the surface > the rest of the time. > > Each time the subject has surfaced it has become 'bigger > than Ben Hur' (or as the subject is future directions should > I say 'Quo Vadis') and generated more traffic than the 'banter' > which generated it. Each time suggestions are made about > splitting this list into 'interest groups'. The debate seems to > ignore the following: > > 1. Topics are dynamic, they grow from one another. > Within a year (at a guess) each of the 'one issue' > lists will have diversified. > > 2. The fact that topics are dynamic is a part of the > strength of the list. One line in a posting can result > in a whole new thread ( and if we are really lucky, > a whole new title in the Subject box). If anyone > genuinely believes this is a bad thing I wish them > luck with controling it. > > 3. It is imposible to find a universaly acceptable definition > for the phrase "off-line topic". (This is not a challenge, > simply a statement of fact). Any definition which would > exclude banter, for example, would probably also exclude > discusion on the day by day, representative by > representative details of the Udall bill. It is actually a lot > easier to find a definition for 'on-line' topics, which would > include both subjects. > > 4. Those people who feel strongly that alternate lists are > viable and desirable are at liberty to set them up. They > are also at liberty to either leave this list or remain on it. > The choice is theirs. > > 5. Finally, as I see it, the real question in regard to the list > is "do I belong to to it for what I can get out of it, or for > what I can give to it?" For most of us the answer will > be a balance of the two. We join for what help we can > get. With time we find ourselves giving more and more. > Hopefully a balance evolves. As for me, if the day ever > comes when I feel that not only am I not getting anything > from being here, but ALSO that I am not giving anything > to the list, I shall fold my tents, say my goodbyes and > leave. Why would I stay? Why would you want me to? > > Lets get real. If anyone is actually going to set up specialist lists let > them do it. If anyone is planing on leaving because of percieved > deficencies in the list, please do so, preferably without blaming me for > their actions. To those of you still out there busy Udalling and > bantering > and even occasionly mentioning PD - Hi, I'm still here, 2 cents worth at > the ready, glad of your support and offering mine. > > Dennis > > ++++++++++++++++++++ > Dennis Greene 47/10 > [log in to unmask] > http://members.networx.net.au/~dennisg/ > ++++++++++++++++++++ Dennis, Excellent! I agree with all of your reasoning and your conclusions. ---Milo -- Milo V. Anderson, Ph.D. Knowledge is free at the library; Box 417 bring your own contianer. Angwin, CA 94508 voice 707 965 2508 ODE TO A METAPHOR fax 707 965 3148 Ilustrations are useful, e-mail [log in to unmask] Or what's a meta-FOR.