Date:         Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:38:39 -0800
Reply-To:     Nolan Hester <waywest@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Nolan Hester <waywest@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: How many Vanagon list members
In-Reply-To:  <200303011429.18Pfuu6KR3NZFlq0@merlin>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

Hi all,

It's certainly not shyness that limits my participation in the
discussion; it's the limits of the discussion. I bought my 87 Westy 9
years ago (and joined this list 2-3 years ago) to travel
spontaneously, camp in the desert, and stop sleeping on the ground.
In short, to get out and see the world. But over the past six months
or so, it feels more and more like the list never leaves the garage.

Not a criticism, really, mostly just a puzzlement that Robert's email
kinda triggered. But if I had a nickel for every message about engine
conversions, I could've paid for one by now. ;-)

For sure, I don't mind the maintenance discussions--all our vans are
old and even a non-mechanic like myself finds tons of useful tips.
And THANK YOU to all the list veterans who so patiently keep
answering the same questions season after season about: heating and
cooling, brakes and tires, lighting fridges & replacing poptops, etc
and etc. But lately there just don't seem to be many other threads
beyond these perennials.

For example, I asked last month if anyone had rented a Westy in Spain
to which I got _one_ reply. That's happens and that's OK. What was a
bit weird, however, is that no threads sprouted up about Europe
travel in general, or hitting the road, or such. Discussions of what
folks carry in their vans, likewise, are almost exclusively about
tools rather than camping gear. So I lurk more than I talk because
the list has its mind on things mostly mechanical.

As for folks who hate to keep hitting the delete key, the DIGEST
version isn't just for high-volume lists. There are advantages to
using DIGEST that go beyond just avoiding a flood of individual
messages and only having to delete a few digests a day:

If you use digest, then when you receive a digest with useful topics,
you can _redirect_ the digest to yourself, which keeps from gunking
up the body with billions of > & | characters. With this fresh copy,
you can then edit out non-relevant messages and change the subject
line to flag the topic you want to save. Then don't actually send the
message to yourself, just drag it to your Vanagon mailbox/folder.
That way, you wind up with a searchable folder of your own most
relevant topics right on your hard drive--which can save some wear
and tear on the list veterans the next time the fridge absolutely
refuses to light.

most respectfully,
Nolan
87 Westy (El Oeste)

>Date:    Sat, 1 Mar 2003 12:24:42 -0800
>From:    Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM>
>Subject: How many Vanagon list members
>
>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?

and

>we have yet to penetrate the mystery of how come only 20 posters and
>280 lurkers. i wouldn't be surprised if some aren't just plain shy.
>
>cheers, art mcginn, '82 westy
>and '82 van
>