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

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Richards" <mark.richards at massmicro.com>
To: <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 8:37 AM
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Did I Subscribe To GreenKeys In 
Error? [OT]


> 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
>
     The limits chosen by list owners vary all over the 
place.  I belong to two lists that are extremely strict and 
to several that wander OT a lot.  For the most part none 
tolerate flaming of any sort.  I think being too strict may 
take away from any feeling of community but it may be that 
such is not relevant to the list. In any case IMO list 
owners or moderators should not allow personal attack or 
anything else not acceptable in polite conversation.
     I will add that when joining a list it may be helpful 
to look over the archives and in any case to stick with it 
for a while since many lists go OT or have episodes of 
temporary nastiness.   This list _is_ pretty much 
concentrated on teleprinters and their technology and 
associated terminal equipment but it turns out that the 
members come from a very wide range of experience (military, 
telephone company, etc) and sometimes share those 
experiences.
     If you want a teleprinter ask about it, there are 
plenty out there although some models are rather rare.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com