Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 12:02:10 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from [198.207.223.231] (HELO babbler.bmc.com) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.0) with ESMTP id 1853397 for lml@lancaironline.net; Tue, 05 Nov 2002 11:58:55 -0500 Received: from localhost.localdomain (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by babbler.bmc.com (8.10.2/8.10.2) with ESMTP id gA5H3tr16552 for ; Tue, 5 Nov 2002 11:03:55 -0600 (CST) Received: from pdavis.bmc.com (pdavis@localhost) by localhost.localdomain (8.11.6/8.11.2) with ESMTP id gA5Gw8J15079 for ; Tue, 5 Nov 2002 10:58:08 -0600 X-Original-Message-Id: <200211051658.gA5Gw8J15079@localhost.localdomain> X-Authentication-Warning: localhost.localdomain: pdavis owned process doing -bs X-Mailer: exmh version 2.4 06/23/2000 with nmh-1.0.4 From: pdavis@bmc.com (Paul Davis) Reply-to: pdavis@bmc.com X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net (Lancair List) Subject: You don't know what you've been missing Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Original-Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 10:58:08 -0600 Lurker mode off: After sitting on this for several days I've decided to post it after all. The first few times I posted questions to the list I got as many or more answers off-list as on and even a few direct phone calls. I found this odd, especially compared to other lists. I thought the point was to SHARE questions (AND answers). Some of the off-list responders specifically asked that I not identify them or quote their e-mails in postings to the list. I found this even more odd. Eventually the reason became painfully obvious. There are lurkers on the list who are reluctant to post -- at least some of the time and on some subjects -- because they want to avoid hostility, personal attacks and "food-fights". Imagine that! Now most of the time we all get along fine -- except when we don't. After what I thought was an unnecessarily nasty post (on-list) in response to an honest attempt to answer a question as best I could I decided the lurkers are probably right. The list is a great place to ASK questions, but I will ANSWER questions sparingly and mostly off-list. Problem solved -- at least for me. Besides, I'm a novice builder and my meager contributions won't be missed. Of course there is that group of non-novice people who are also in lurker mode. And if enough choose to lurk the utility of the list will be reduced. But them's the breaks. I thought to quietly slip away, but my smarter and more reasonable wife convinced me I really should at least mention this on the list and/or complain to the moderator(s). The moderator is really the only one who can FORCE us to "play nice", but making the list members a little more aware might help. Besides, even though the moderator is the only possible enforcer the push to do something (anything) must come from the list. It's up to you. Lurker mode back on: ------------------- Paul Davis INTP Lancair Legacy builder pdavis@bmc.com Phone 713-918-1550 ------------------- Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim Be patient and tough; one day this pain will be useful to you