[CH] List evolution and cycles
Brandon C Nuttall (bnuttall@kih.net)
Fri, 09 Jul 1999 19:38:36 -0400
Hello folks,
I have been on several large lists for over the period of several years.
There are always several groups of people participating in the list at any
given time:
1) A core group who always seem to be there and are always helpful.
2) A group of people that are new to the list and have all kinds of questions.
3) There is a group of experienced users that know a particular subject has
been discussed ad infinitum previously and don't see why the new people
just can't check the archives.
4) There is a group of both new listers and old timers that can never seem
to remember how they subscribed to the list in the first place and want to
know how to unsubscribe.
5) There is a group of allies I'll call the "on-topic onlys" and "we need
to spin off a separate list for that".
6) There are also instigators. The essential anonymity of electronic mail
gives them carte blanche to vent on whatever irks them.
Subjects ebb and flow. Flames come and go. Recognize that the diversity of
the list is its best resource. On this list, some of the interests are:
gardening, cooking, cross-pollinating chilis, fungus, trapping garden
pests, smoking chilis, and more. Some are even worried about the difference
between chili and chile.
Remember that no matter how neanderthal you think the idiot on the other
end of the SEND button is, you are not talking to just that one person. You
are broadcasting to everyone.
Take care and use the best resources of this list to enjoy chilis to the
fullest.
Brandon C. Nuttall