Re: Recurrent topics on the list

[Greg Hurrell <gh@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marcus Carr made some points about Dan Emory's email:

>> 1. On a well-manged list, new subscribers should be required...

>> 2. Those who ignore the start-up package and repeatedly request help on
>> issues that are fully addressed in the FAQ should be warned by the list
>> manager.

>> 3. When a new recurring topic emerges that is not covered by the FAQ, a new
>> item should be added to the FAQ and sent to all subscribers, instructing
>> them to add the new item to the FAQ they received when they first subscribed
>> to the list.

>> 4. The willingness to build one's own archive is part of being a responsible
>> list member...

Like Marcus Carr, I think all of this sounds a bit heavy-handed. I think a
much better solution is to send people a so called "start-up package" upon
subscribing that includes the FAQ but which omits all the draconian language
of "requirements", "instructions", "warnings", and "responsibility".

Any decent FrameMaker FAQ would include answers to questions not only about
FrameMaker, but about the mailing lists, the archives, list etiquette, and
how/when to post questions. I'm sure that these points about list etiquette,
if phrased as question-answer pairs instead of authoritarian dictums would
be much better received by new subscribers. It makes the list sound like a
friendlier place (and as far as I can tell, 95% of the people on the list
ARE pretty damn friendly).

Rather than "instructing people to create a mailbox called 'FAQ'", why not
just include in the preamble of the FAQ a line like, "You should keep this
FAQ in a safe place"?

Rather than instructing subscribers to manually add new items to the FAQ,
why not just have the list admin send the FAQ out to the list at a regular
interval (even once a week would not be too often), clearly labelled "FAQ:
Framers List", and if updated with new entries then clearly marked as such
(eg. "FAQ: Framers List: UPDATED 4 March 2000"). Veterans could ignore it if
they chose, even delete it; newbies might want to open it up and see the
list of new or updated entries that should appear near the top.

Rather than lecturing new comers about their obligations and
responsibilities to construct their own archives, why not just have a
question in the FAQ that tells them it's a good idea and suggests a way to
do it?

Anyway, I won't ramble on further. You get the idea. My basic argument is
that there seems to be a good way to address the problem of repetitious
traffic on the list without getting people's dander up or being tyrannical.
Administering a FAQ like I propose would be a piece of cake. Once written, I
could set up Outlook Express to even handle the automatic weekly posting of
the FAQ. (By the way, I am happy to be responsible for it, if you want.)






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