Date:         Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:01:03 -0800
Reply-To:     Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon List Moderator-let's get things underway!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

OK, I've been reading this for several days now, here's my .02...

I'm for looser control, mostly I agree with John Rodgers. I draw the
line at out-and-out spam, and I think it's a good thing to mark the
NVC posts as such. I get my Vanagon list in the digest mode, it works
well for me. I simply scan through, and either "archive" or "delete"
as necessary. Really, I think there's more to owning a Vanagon than
just supplementing your Bentley- - I for one really enjoy a lot of the
folks here, and if all I was looking for was technical help, I could
probably find it in a book somewhere. But it's really great when you
do ask a technical question, you're sure to get a wide range of
responses!

I also enjoy the trip reports, the sightings, the Frydaye follies,
even the insurance hassles...hope I'm never involved in one! And I'm
not bothered when someone asks something not Vanagon-related - - to
me, the reason they ask is because this is a comfortable list to be
on, and they are acknowledging the very wide range of experience on
this forum. Most of those who post NVC queries keep it short and ask
to be p-mailed. What's wrong with that? And if you answer, "the
archives", well, folks, they've been unusable for a long time now
(although I hope to get the Opera browser thingus working soon). I've
p-mailed many of you directly on NVC issues - - people I wouldn't even
know existed but for this list! There sure are a lot of you I'd enjoy
meeting! I ask you all to remember the fantastic outpouring of warmth
and support for Boston Bob's family - - would we have seen anything
like that on a "tech questions only" list?

And for what it's worth, I'm 57. The fossilization process has barely begun!

Gary



> Date:    Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:13:08 -0600
> From:    John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
> Subject: Re: Vanagon List Moderator-let's get things underway!
>

>>
>> I have no problem with off-topic posts, provided they are given a
>> proper subject line, so they can be filtered, either by a participant's
>> email agent, or by the list server itself.
>>
> Some things need cleaning up, but mostly I would like to see the [NVC]
> become standard fair for off topic subjects. And to see Frydaye Follies
> become a permanent part of the scene. What I fear is the degradation of
> the sense of community by over restrictive rules and actions. The [NVC]
> works for me. And I confess to often asking [NVC] questions of the The
> List membership. It is such a wealth of information it seems a waste not
> to put it to use, even on [NVC] stuff at times. It sure has helped me in
> other areas of life besides strictly Vanagon things. I would be more
> than a bit lost not being able to communicate with such a great bunch of
> folks about other things. In my view, there isn't another group out
> there quite like this one. So allowing [NVC] for me is crucial.  It just
> needs to be marked as such so that it can easily be filtered or deleted.
> There are some good things that come across the list that are important
> and even enrich our lives but are definitely [NVC], so I have no problem
> with [NVC] myself, it just needs to become a standard that any [NVC]
> stuff is marked as such.
>
> As for "Moderators" as opposed to "Administrators" I would go very slow
> on that one. Not done right, it can wreak havoc. There will be a lot of
> people that will quit and leave the list, and, fact is, we aren't that
> big. We need all we can hold onto that are interested in Vanagons. As
> these machines age, we will suffer more and more attrition. And there is
> going to be some attrition due to aging list members. I'm 70 years old,
> and I'm not the only one. There are those members older than me and
> there are one or two that are older than dirt itself.  One day, and it's
> not far off for those over 70, we won't be here to participate. And
> there will be more and more that drop  out over time as the people and
> the vehicles wear out to the point repair and replacement aren't
> possible. But frankly I'm glad to have found a "community" with
> Vanagons, and I hope to hi heaven it doesn't turn into some very dry
> all-techie sort of list. There are plenty of those out there.
>
> By the way, it would be interesting to compare the ages of those pushing
> for tight control and those not . Life experience certainly colors our
> points of view.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>