Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 10:37:41 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: How many Vanagon list members
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Every list has a core of people that are active with the
commmunications. Around that are a lot of people that are always coming
or going - joining or leaving. Newbies are at a loss of how to get any
information about their favorite subjects or answers to their questions,
old timers have amassed so much knowledge that the Newbies questions can
get tiring.
But it's a lot like children growing up. Every new generation thinks
they are the first ones to discover sex when countless generations
before them have BTDT, long before the Newbie was a gleam in Daddy's
eye. The Newbies ask all the same questions, the old timers look up and
roll their eyes and think "Here we go again!"
An important factor in this list is the fact that among the active
members, especially the "Old Timers" here, we have a living memory that
contains knowledge of our direction, and information about our vans,
activities, events, sources, etc, etc, etc. that is instantly accessible
That is, in my opinion, one of the most valuable assets that we have as
a group. I have seen it in other groups, and when that is stiffled,
people drift away, the group dies. This is extremely important. The
concept is so important, that in the real world of business, a company
that loses it's living history - ie, enough people leave that contain
the active core knowledge of the operations , the nuts and bolts of it
if you will - runs a real risk of failure as a business, or at minimum a
fundamental change in what the business is.
It is true that the theme of this list drifts back and forth off the
centerline of Vans, but that is ok in my book. It adds interest and is
stimulating to get varying points of view. And when we get to far
afield, our list administrator, Tom Carrington, does a pretty good job
of calling our hand and putting us back on track
As with all lists, if you don't like it, don't read it! Or, on the other
hand, express an opinion. Otherwise, use the delete key. That is what
it's for. There is a lot of stuff on this list and others that that I
simply don't read. I don't have time or I am not interested. I delete
it. Simple.
For all it's variety, I would not change this list in any way.
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Robert Keezer wrote:
> Hello Vanagon Listmembers, all five of you!
>
> Does anyone have the actual number of members?
>
> Ever since I started filtering out those who post more than ten
> messages a
> day, my mailbox is almost empty.
>
> A good thing , to keep from getting warnings from Hotmail that I have
> exceeded my storage limit, but disappointing for now often I see only
> 5 to
> fifteen posts from list members.
> Is there something wrong with the server?
> .
> Or has the Vanagon list has become the "private" chat room for about five
> members?
>
> One of the five members who's identity I won't disclose posted no less
> that
> 18 times in one day!
>
> Is this "takeover " of the list by a few is keeping others away from
> posting, or,are so few posting that some members feel obligated to
> fill the
> gap, and perpetuate the illusion that the Vanagon list is still the
> biggest
> and best VW web mailing list on the internet?
>
> You would'nt know it looking at my mailbox today.
>
> If the few of us who are writing ten or more e-mails a day find it
> necesscary to post this volume, maybe it's time to go to the Vanagon chat
> room.
>
> I just came back from the chat room- I ended up talking to myself.
>
> Who uses the Vanagon chat room?
>
> So , unless I missed the news that the server kicked off a bunch of
> members
> , or else every one is lurking,
> consider maybe 6 posts max a day .
>
> Sorry, no intention to offend you who post more than 6 -8 e-mails a
> day- I'd
> like to remove your names from my filter list,so I can read your
> posts, but
> my delete key finger couldnt take the abuse any longer.
>
> Anybody else have the same experience?
> Regular programming will now resume.
>
>
> Robert K
>
> 1982 Westfalia
> 1986 Westfalia
> 1991 Syncro
>
>
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