Klarinet Archive - Posting 001098.txt from 1999/07
From: Mitch Bassman <mbassman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] moderated list
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 11:38:51 -0400
Mark,
Regarding the recent suggestions to turn KLARINET into a moderated mailing
list,
At 05:33 PM 07/26/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Klarinet isn't going to be moderated (at least not while it sits on Sneezy),
>but watch this space for the announcement of a moderated list. Maybe in the
>next few weeks.
>
>And yes, I'll be one of the moderators. There'll be more than one, each with
>the power to let a message through. I've already got one signed up; I'm
>looking for one more to make a total of three.
Some thoughts. (I considered sending this message directly to you and then
reconsidered, because the topic is of interest to the list membership in
general.)
Have you (and your already-signed-up-but-yet-unnamed moderator) defined
specific criteria for moderation of the new mailing list? Fuzzy criteria
even? Will those criteria be based on your personal preferences or those of
the community? Will they be made very clear to the list subscribers? I've
always thought of you as an overly generous-with-your-time and inordinately
competent system (and list) administrator (not to mention someone who is
fun to buy pizza and beer for at an annual International Clarinet
Festival), but not necessarily as the appropriate conscience of the
KLARINET community. (Consider, for example, your recent off-topic request
for programming support for your real-life business and your occasional
on-list perceived attacks on flaming list members.)
The comparative style of the FLUTE list is often raised (by numerous
cross-over members) as a topic on the KLARINET list. I must admit that I'm
one of the people who is quite satisfied with the benevolent dictatorship
of the FLUTE list. Prior to FLUTE's creation (in March 1996), control on
its predecessor list (Flute-m) had, in my opinion, gotten way out of hand
by a *malevolent* dictator. Some time later, when the spin off Flutenet
list was created by a FLUTE member to allow off-topic discussion, I tried
it for a few months and dropped off because too many threads were *far* off
topic.
KLARINET has worked reasonably well as a self-moderated list as it was
originally created by Jim Fay. Yes, it's true that every year at this time
we get a couple of weeks of several hundred messages about marching bands.
Admittedly, that's a topic that interests many clarinetists but certainly
not everyone on the list. (For some reason, fortunately, that topic is
never quite as lively on the FLUTE list.) Yes, we've had a few off-topic
threads and a few flaming attacks that get out of control for awhile until
the collective voice of the KLARINET community tells the offenders to shut
up. Yes, we've lost some of our most well known professional clarinetist
contributors because of flame attacks or off-topic threads. (I suspect that
some of them are still lurking out there, but only they and the system
administrator know for sure.)
My point, Mark, is that KLARINET is *not* sick and dying the way FLUTE-M
surely was three and a half years ago when FLUTE was created as an
alternative moderated list. With its vast membership, KLARINET shows no
advanced signs of being ready to die. Nevertheless, I would welcome some
form of moderation to reduce the flames. (The off-topic threads die
quickly. The flames and attacks sometimes linger for days.)
I, for one, would like to read your thoughts about the future. To what
extent do you intend to moderate? Will all messages be read before
retransmission to the list members or will offenders be quietly but quickly
chastised off-line? Will the criteria be made specific or will you simply
know an offense when you read it? Do you expect the new moderated mailing
list to replace the current one as the clarinet mailing list of choice for
"serious" musicians? Where exactly are you going with this? Many of us
contributed financially to the current host system; we deserve to know.
Mark, if you'd like to look at one model for a moderated list (not
necessarily the best model for the clarinet community), subscribe to FLUTE
as a lurker for awhile. If you'd rather simply read about how the list
operates, point your browser at the owner's welcome page
<http://users.uniserve.com/~lwk/welcome.htm>. Click on the graphic that
says "FLUTE -- An e-mail discussion list for flutists" to get general
information about the list management, and follow the link to "Important
Information for Subscribed FLUTE Members" to learn about some of the list
policies. I'm not saying that it's the best approach for the clarinet
community, only that it's one model to be considered. (I'm sending a
courtesy copy of this message to the flute list owner only because I've
cited his web site here.) Instructions for subscribing to FLUTE have been
posted often on KLARINET by numerous members (less so in the other
direction); so many of us are already familiar with the alternative styles.
Looking forward to reading your well-thought-out plans,
Mitch Bassman
Burke, Virginia, USA
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