[Elecraft] List Overload

[Don Wilhelm]

Ted and all,

I am in agreement with you.  There is benefit in many OT conversations, 
and thankfully Eric allows it.  We learn many things about ham radio in 
general as well as how it applies to Elecraft radios (even if it is only 
about operating/conditions at the time).  There are many OT discussions 
about things related to the hamshack in general including "I have 
RF-in-the-shack" that relate to our use of Elecraft gear.
Discussions of that nature are for the edification of all Elecraft users.

The problem is that there are many "me too" responses, or the 
conversation becomes opinionated or personal.

We can all learn a bit from those OT discussions, but be cautious not to 
overdo it else Eric will shut it down.

If the discussion turns to specifics of one or two persons, take it 
off-list.  Or if the subject is not of interest to the general ham 
community, take it off-list.

The list rules allows individuals to offer "for sale" equipment, but 
those offering commercial services are limited to once a month.  I think 
that is adequate to "get the word out" without disrupting the list.

If you have read this far, I would encourage you to add "OT" to the 
subject line if you make a post that is really off-topic - even if you 
are replying to another post.

73,
Don W3FPR

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/28/2017 3:36 PM, Dauer, Edward wrote:
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>   I believe both kinds of views are valid, this coming from a confessed but unabashed occasional OT-committer.  For some the reflector is a source of technical information and exchange about Elecraft products.  Period.  Nothing wrong with that.  For others – like me – it’s a conversation place for people with a core common interest who eventually come to know each other, some of whom they’ve met personally, some of whom they’ve corresponded with off-list, some of whom are only in the willing or unwilling audience.  I like to think of it as the e-mail equivalent of an OTA net among people who get together now and then.  If that view is also valid, which I believe it is, then there ought to be some license for OT conversation among friends – within reason and not too far from the core common ground.  In addition, if we were absolutely strict about the Elecraft-only technical limit, there would be no room for talk of antennas, baluns (or chokes as the case may be), lightning protection, propagation, power supplies, batteries other than those in Elecraft gear, or a google of other useful and instructional topics.  As a participant I try to keep my OT departures brief, infrequent, and close to the core, with follow-up off list if anyone wants to do that.  I would miss a great deal of the camaraderie intrinsic to amateur radio if we couldn’t occasionally draw outside the lines.  Something like telling off-color jokes during the monthly poker game.
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