Martin writes:
Snip!
>I didn't understand or agree with the objection to the WTC discussion then
>or now. Maybe I'm still just a little angry about it all.
Martin...
I can think of a number of reasons why off topic posts are
discouraged. The efficiency of the internet as medium of discussion
goes right down the toilet when messages are posted in the wrong
place. It's reduces your own personal efficiency when you're
searching things you want to read and things you _must_ read.
You probably know that some folks are on "metered" service where they
pay for what comes across the screen...wanted or not. And we need to
remember that this is an international list. Being pro-western is not
a requirement for subscription.
That said, I was *extremely* tempted to join the WTC discussion going
on here in the last few days. As a former Manhattanite this disaster
has affected me deeply. Because it is "an event of the highest
(inter)national crisis" there were undoubtedly more off topic posts
on internet lists, newsgroups, etc., than ever before. Human nature I
suppose. People who are on lists and newsgroups develop friendships
and want support in times like these.
We can be forgiven for this, I would think. Setting aside all the
reasons I've listed above for not posting off topic messages, the
compelling reason for *my* not extending the WTC discussion is because
I needed to come here to escape for a while. I needed to think about
something else for a time. There are probably others like me.
And too, the light-hearted "Ssooo '70s, man" thread is actually a
continuation of the WTC thread. It's just gone underground. :-)
Cheers!
Tom O'Malley (no relation to "Wolfer")
/// triumphs@autox.team.net mailing list
/// To unsubscribe send a plain text message to majordomo@autox.team.net
/// with nothing in it but
///
/// unsubscribe triumphs
///
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
|