Date:         Tue, 19 Jan 1999 05:21:38 EST
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fw: Re: Bus Depot SPAM, again! - Note from the List Admin!
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

In a message dated 99-01-19 03:20:46 EST, you write:

> solution to our vendor controversy?

Can't we all get along?

Somehow I missed the "controversy." It seems to me about six list members are
upset about vendors' posting solutions to problems and notices about parts for
sale some list members undoubtably need and purchase. Six out of how many list
members total? Let's put this in perspective.

And then,  let's correctly state the problem. It is obviously not difficult
for an individual to delete e-mails from vendors and enthusiasts who are
selling parts, because the posting can be easily deleted with a click. We all
know who the "offending vendors" are, and what their e-mail adresses look
like. And if we didn't like the vendors tactics to make parts available we
wouldn't be buying parts from them. And then there postings would become a
useless waste of time for them.

In light of that it seems the problem is a few list members feel the need to
dictate the e-mail that other list members can receive. Because those members
could easily personally delete messages from their mailbox from the three or
four members who they claim offend. Problem is none of us elected them to
solve problems that they perceive or create.

I don't see how that kind of politicing helps members of the list. To the best
of my knowledge a small handful of list members are peeved by these "vendor"
postings. Some feel the list used to be better. Some have been on the list
longer than others and feel they understand what would make the list better
and more like it was. Be that as it may, I don't think the majority of us have
such issues with the list. I, for one, enjoy being part of a community with a
similar interest consisting of individuals with different needs and questions
in this common vien.

I quite frankly like the postings from vendors. It helps me be a more informed
citizen in the Vanagon community. And it seems to me the list is about sharing
information. It is a bulletin board of the internet kind. And by design a
bulletin board will have some information that is useful to some individuals
and not to others and vice versa.

To those who feel the need to protect me: Please don't feel the need to censor
the notices that I find useful because you do not need that information on
that particular day. To me the list is about sharing information relating to
our Vanagons. Shortened Synchro spring discussion has no use to me. But I
understand it is valuable to others. Similarly items for sale are of interest
to me and may not be to some others. I accept that. It's the nature of a
community. It's the reason we all wear separate pajamas. We're all
individuals.

Please respect my right to recieve e-mails as I respect yours. You can delete
the e-mails that offend you, and I can delete the ones that I don't feel are
of use to me.

And please, lets be clear that this discussion is not about the difficulty
individuals are having recognizing and deleting e-mail from so-called
"vendors". It is about personal agendas by a few people who feel they know how
best to tailor the list to others' needs. And while I appreciate that, I think
it is a bit misguided.

Somehow I missed the out pouring of list members who feel offering parts for
sale to list members is a problem. I quite frankly think finding parts for my
bus is a very useful function of the list. And the "vendors" are obviously
supported by enough of us to make it worth their while to post.

It's nothing personal against those who are peeved by such postings. In fact
my guess is in the art of fairness those few who don't like "for sale"
postings by the chosen four will yeild to the logic that each member should be
able to choose individually what Vanagon related e-mail he or she reads.

And yes, give the squeeky wheel the grease. To those who are vocal about not
wanting to read the offending posts, here's the grease: delete it. You don't
need to censor what I feel is useful information.

If I'm in the minority, and most of the list members want some kind of
regulation on postings, I'll gladly yield to that. But so far I've seen only
about six members peeved by such postings.

If none of us supported the vendors who are posting their wares they wouldn't
post. I, for one support them. The number one reason is the price is right,
and number two is I have found them to be a wealth of information. I will go
as far as to say Todd, Ron, Kyle, chris,Ken, and others I may have forgotten
are an asset and a blessing to the list.

I'll beep and wave when I see you on the highways.
Thanks,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
NYC