Date:         Tue, 19 Jun 2001 17:56:31 -0400
Reply-To:     "Christopher T. Berchin" <ctb1@PEOPLEPC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Christopher T. Berchin" <ctb1@PEOPLEPC.COM>
Subject:      Don't become a crappy list
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi all.  I realize this topic is being done to death, but I wanted to say
this:

I have been on several lists before - one Toyota MR2 list, two Honda lists,
and two Ford Focus message boards.  I'm still pretty new, but by far, the
Vanagon list has been the most helpful and responsive of them all.  One
thing that turned me off of those other lists was that nearly every one
eventually broke down into some sort of name-calling.  In some cases, it was
racial.  In others, it was "how can you want to do something so stupid to
your car?"  Combine that with going over the same topics over and over again
("No, really, putting a larger rear stabilizer bar on your car really will
cause it to have less understeer."), and you have something that I
eventually decided to not be a part of anymore.

One thing they all had in common, however - they were all *moderated* lists.
When I signed on, I knew I was agreeing that the content could be filtered
as deemed necessary by the guy who ran the list.  Thus, this really isn't a
question of "America giving up its freedoms."  And before anyone jumps to
conclusions, know that I'm of the camp that feels America HAS given up too
many freedoms (my apologies to our friends in other countries - I don't want
to make this into another "big bad America" issue), but I don't feel that
censorship on these lists is a big deal since we all knew that the list is
moderated.

Moderating a list is a lot of work - I know, since one of those Focus lists
was run by a friend of mine until he ran out of time and money to do it.
I've already benefited HUGELY from this list - you guys helped me make my
van purchase with confidence, and the list has provided me with parts and
information that I wouldn't have had otherwise.  Please don't turn this
excellent list into yet another one that I end up unsubscribing to.  We have
a good thing going here - let's knock it off.

This is Tom's list - he gets to moderate as he sees fit.  Don't like it?
Unsubscribe.  But regardless of if you were or weren't offended by the post
in question, you'll give up a great information resource if you unsubscribe
over this issue.

Ok, I'm getting off my soapbox now.  I promise it will be Vanagon content
from now on.  : )

Chris