[GreenKeys] Did I Subscribe To GreenKeys In Error? [OT]

[Mark Richards]

In a message dated 3/14/2013 4:04:04 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, 
greenkeys at pferris.com writes:

    Hi Guys,

    I'm fairly new to the list. I believe this is my first posting. Bear
    with me if I'm way off base.  I originally subscribed because
    "GreenKeys" was referred to me as a good possible source to find a
    Teletype reasonably cheap... I was looking for a Model 33 Teletype
    with paper tape reader & punch. I wanted to get a feel to see what
    GreenKeys was all about.  Earlier today I received GreenKeys Digest,
    Vol 110, Issue 45.

    For those that don't receive GreenKeys in digested format, it
    featured the following articles:
    ...

    Did I subscribe to this in error?  Is the a technology themed digest
    related to amateur radio or is it something else?  With the
    exception of topic #1, I'm not sure what #2 thru #5 had to do with
    Amateur Radio or TTY or anything remotely close. Lending it a cutesy
    subject line doesn't mitigate the fact that it was:

    1)Vitriolic in nature.

    2)Totally unrelated to Amateur radio and/or teletype.

    3)Is this digest total anarchy or is it actively moderated, but off
    topic postings laced with profanity is cool? I ask because the only
    thing that I saw in the QSL.NET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES that
    pornography won't pass muster. What is this list's charter / purpose?

    ...

I hear you.

The off topic issue has been raised before, particularly where heated 
political exchanges are involved.  Indeed the discussion about off topic 
now goes off topic too, and I shall therefore sadly expect this note 
will receive more chastisement then those which prompted it.

It seems GreenKeys serves as a community where, around similar 
interests, conversations happen that occasionally go far from those 
interests.  The association between a swollen prostate and TTYis of 
course difficult to make, especially for any women who are among list 
participants. Perhapsin a bicycling enthusiasts list such would have 
more-shall I say- sway, than here.

The act of going off topic is not to be marginalized as a problem, 
however I do think the community aspect here is valuable to some and the 
conversations do occasionally bring interesting reading/thinking 
toothers. A creative solution might be had by simply using [OT] in the 
subject line for discussions that are either immediately far afield, or 
which progressively go astray. Moderators can do that, but of course 
this takes time, so better that participants self-police. [OT] can then 
be filteredout visually orby a good email client. [OT] may be a 
solution, but I also think that immediately off-topic postings should be 
strongly discouraged.

Having been here for several years perhaps gives me enough qualification 
to suggest that shutting the dooror slamming it upon fingers might rip 
the heart out of what makes this sometimes quirky list fun and 
interesting (for some). I'd find that disappointing.. maybe others also?

Signing up for this list may not have been a mistakeif the necessity of 
wading through the "chaff" is recognized as, for better/worse, part of 
the deal :)

Hope you can stayon.

/m

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