Re: Another voice has been silenced

[<mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Many of us know  about moderated lists.  In the past they have been too
unresponsive for my personal taste.  In some cases I would receive but one
digest per week.  And it could be 2/3 weeks before receiving any responses
to an inquiry.

The AMC list is very responsive.  Sometimes guys get their answers in 5
minutes.  Yet sometimes it is 2-3 days.  I figured this slowness in some
cases  was because of the diminishing number of participants.

Also, the listserv apparently malfunctions from time to time for whatever
reason.  We have had periods of no list activity for several days at a time.
I suppose that has caused some members to leave.  I suppose if worse came to
worse that could be changed at some point.  We have not had such experience
with our two other list handling services previously (years past).  We
always had AMC List mail.  I do think our listserv is better now that in the
past but still could be better.  I shouldn't say anything about this perhaps
as I know nothing about running or controlling an email list service.

Our mainstay for responses to inquiries is JimB, FrankS, GlenH, KenA, and
Randy.  We used to have many more people as respondents.  Not all people are
online often enough to be very responsive.  Sometimes peoples questions do
get over answered but those responses are educational as there is often more
than one answer to a problem.  I think that's good.

Some time ago the list reviewed the way it was being handled for the same
reasons as taken place the last few days.  We opted to go on in the same
manner as we value this freedom and responsiveness and chose to leave the
list manager in charge of policing the list troublemakers. all members had
voting privileges.   I think it can go on working for us even if we do have
some social, personality, or behavior problems.    We can approach list
managers about changing these things and explore other options at any time,
same as before.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ralph Ausmann  -  Hillsboro, OR - > http://mysite.verizon.net/res79g4m/
<ralph.ausmann@xxxxxxxxxxx> -  http://clubs.hemmings.com/classicamx



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John McEwen" <moparrr@xxxxxxx>
To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 7:29 AM
Subject: Re: Another voice has been silenced


> This is a comment from a new member of this list.  It is based on
> many years of internet participation in other automotive-related and
> marque-specific lists.  I receive approximately 300 emails per day
> from these lists and closely follow many interesting threads on them.
>
> All lists require rules and a moderator who should be careful to
> control the content to prevent the kind of foolishness which has been
> going on here.  All other lists to which I belong, or have belonged,
> would have ended the silliness, name-calling and outright hysteria
> which we have witnessed since I joined some 6 months ago.  No other
> list would permit outright mention of names, companies, products and
> specifics in this manner simply to prevent the possibility of a legal
> action against all of the members.  There is such a possibility here
> - not to mention the very real possibility of an action for libel.
>
> On all other lists, the name and email address of the list moderator
> is known and advertised.  Additionally, the processes for leaving the
> list are clearly shown at all times.  The rules are clear and are
> followed.  Those incapable of following them are warned and if the
> warning is ineffective the offender is removed or banned for a period
> of time.  End of subject!  Competent list supervisors will also
> announce that a certain thread is ended and all subsequent posts on
> the topic are simply blocked.  Persistance will result in the person
> attempting to continue the thread being banned for a period of time.
>
> On a properly-moderated list, with participants who are motivated to
> stick by the rules, emails are signed by the sender.  They are not
> simply hurled out without a posted address and with no clue as to the
> sender.  Sniping from the bushes is not the way to participate in the
> old car hobby for the benefit of self and others.
>
> Personalities, feuds and  friendships outside of the list are
> irrelevant.  The topic in this case is AMC - not the politics of
> personal empires, personal profit or loss on AMC-related businesses
> or who belongs to what club and why they should or shouldn't.  Let
> the clubs put up their own websites and run their own lists if their
> only concern is enhancing membership or wooing members from one to
> the other.
>
> Those kinds of discussions belong off the list.  They may start there
> but must be taken off to personal interchanges without the need to
> expose members to personal agendas.  The quality of a list is known
> by its conduct, its friendliness, its respect for other opinions and
> its utility value.  It is also known for an even-handed approach to
> the diversity of the vehicles and the interests of the different
> members.  The list must also be tightly monitored to guard against
> the willful sniper who shoots harsh and damaging words from his
> anonymous position at the keyboard.
>
> A poor list is ultimately a reflection on the cars themselves and
> creates stereotypes regarding the kinds of people who own them.  So
> far, the old stereotypes of AMCs being poor, cheap cars for poor,
> cheap people seems to be winning the day.  I'm sure the Chevy guys
> must be snickering.
>
> An un-moderated list, as this seems to be, is a zoo without cages - a
> back alley cat fight or a cheap podium to snarl at the world to
> compensate for personal failures and inadequacies.  I have witnessed
> more bad language, ignorance, open anger, bias and outright nastiness
> than anywhere else in my 10 years of list participation.  It has come
> from a very few people, who by their self-announced credentials are
> old and wise enough to know far better.
>
> I stay because I have a car and am interested in participating with
> fellow AMC owners in a useful forum.
>
> Let's get back to that!
>
> John McEwen
>
> '78 Matador Barcelona Coupe