On Sunday 05 Oct 2003 12:51 pm, ed tharp wrote:I've seen this problem on almost every technical/specialist list I've been subscribed to, from linux to linguistics. The reason for OT blooms is that replying to an OT thread requires no special knowledge, so the average user is more likely to respond to an OT thread than one on, say, ipchains.
So.... any suggestions?
Only that I would add that there has been more than one post on the expert list lately, saying that people on the newbie list are so busy with their OTs and political arguments that they do not reply to ordinary requests for help. Yes, people do leave for this reason.
Some OT threads still have a place on this list because they are of interest to list members - the software patent thread is a good example (at least the start of it was). As soon as these threads stray into general politics or personal chat, though, it's time to take them over to the OT list. That's _why_ we have an OT list:
http://mdw1982.dyndns.org/mailman/listinfo/mandrakeot
Sir Robin
-- "I can say: 'Thank these bees for their honey as though they were kind people who have prepared it for you'; that is intelligible and describes how I should like you to conduct yourself. But I cannot say: 'Thank them because, look, how kind they are!'--since the next moment they may sting you. - Wittgenstein
Robin Turner IDMYO Bilkent Univeritesi Ankara 06533 Turkey
www.bilkent.edu.tr/~robin
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