Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 22:07:59 EDT
Reply-To: FrankGRUN@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM>
Subject: My Position on List Closure Issues and Unwanted Mail
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First, I sincerely apologize for even writing this and adding to the noise on
this subject.
Second, I can handle the list open or closed. The only issue as far as I am
concerned is the impact on our sysop. Maintaining this list has proven in the
past to be a demanding and even onerous task taking significant amounts of
personal time. I suspect that the travail of list maintenance (hardware,
software and attending to petty grievances that arise from time to time) has
contributed to Gerry's wandering in the past. Our current sysop has done a
remarkable job of keeping the list up. As far as I am concerned, the KEY
issue here is : "What is easiest for Tom to implement and maintain". Easiest
translates as least effort, low maintenance, minimum hassle! So if Tom thinks
that it is advantageous to leave the list open, leave the list open. If he
would prefer to close it, close it. If he would prefer to settle down in a
soft comfortable chair and chug a brew (I would suggest an AugistinerBrau,
BTW - furnished on request if you don't have access, Tom) and forget the
issue for 6 months, I'm all for it.
Fourth, to those who have a problem with Simian material passing their
screens at work or home and deleting is too demanding or unacceptable an
effort, I suggest you read this material at home. I am shamed to admit that I
use AOL for this purpose. Its cheap, efficient and I have successfully
accessed the list from all of the USA (yep, even Texas), Canada, Mexico,
England, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Japan to cite a few locations. If
such a compromise is financially too challenging, or the employer demands too
strict, then by all means, leave the list. It is your loss.
Fifth, to those who say: "if the list is not closed, I shall leave", I say
c'est la vie. Bye, your input might be missed.
Sixth, to those who leave because the volume of mail is too high - Again I
say so long, bon voyage! (BTW, I have been known to delete 30 to 40 messages
with a single keystroke - A Mac phenomena!).
Seventh, to those who leave because they can't figure out how to unsubscribe,
I say its about time. I am tempted to quote the unreformed Scrooge from
Dicken's A Christmas Carol, but this is already too long.
Eight, to those who feel the need to leave the list because of my long and
obscure posts, I say delete, delete!
The solid content of the list is variable at best and not nearly as evident
as in the past. The number of repetitive questions is far higher than I
recall, yet I do not begrudge the time to peruse the days mail.
A Pox on this topic,
Tom do whatever you will. I for one will applaud your efforts.
Frank Grunthaner
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