Date:         Tue, 19 Jan 1999 15:10:20 -0500
Reply-To:     Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
Subject:      The good old days ;) What the list could be again. Was: SPAM

All this SPAM debate has been on what people don't like. How about
some constructive suggestions to what we WOULD LIKE on the list?

I've been on the list since 1994 when it was just months old so
forgive me for being a bit nostalgic, but in the early days the
list was just so much more than reiterating headlights, grilles
and other gizmos; how many remember Tobin and Christa's 30 000
mile epic circumnavigation of the north american continent? At
the time this was posted listmembers would frequenly post trip
reports, good camping spots, and other creative things they like
to do in/with their busses/vanagons.

Lately I think this dimension of the list has been lost. Perhaps
drowned in SA grilles, 5 cyl conversions, DE headlights and other
product discussions and the 10 or more "I want one!" and "Me too!"
posts inevitably trailing a new announcement.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate technical discussion. I just think
that the list has degenerated into a cacaphony on commercial gizmos
without much serious technical content. When someone raises a serious
issue (like John's post about the optimal gear selection to match
torque and bsfc curves) it is hardly noticed above the general noise
level.

I just hope that the list could return to a state with discussion
on many diverse issues, not that a few mainstream ones completely
overpower everything else.

Cheers,
Martin
--
Westy 1.9l Turbo Diesel
Quantum 1.6l Turbo Diesel

Martin Jagersand                 email: jag@cs.yale.edu
Computer Science Department             jag@cs.rochester.edu
Yale University

        Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
          WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
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