> From: Bayard G. Bell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, 2 August 1999 5:16
> To: Rabid Wombat
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Time to break up: call for a plebiscite
>
>
> [I hope that anyone who cares to object to my posts will take the time
> to READ them and address their substance rather than claiming that I
> argue one thing and then making a poorly-formed argument against it or
> attempting to use my own argument against me.]
Uh oh, I think I hear the pot calling the kettle black....
If you had bothered to listen (read) the discussion on moderation after your
initial request then read and addressed the substance of the criticism to
this thread. The point is that splitting the list is not going to help, in
fact based on my previous experiences it makes it worse.
Lets just say that we split the list as you propose, how many of us will
subscribe to both? Many I would venture, then because people (especially
new users) never read list charters many questions / answers will be simply
crossposted to both lists thus doubling the e-mail volume of those who
attempt to follow both. Those users with enough of a clue to check out the
list charters before posting are not those who are causing the problems with
asinine posts on the current list.
On the list we have a wide range of experiences from IT security consultants
(like myself) to clueless users to experienced administrators. Whilst the
discussion on portscanning etc did (is?) go on for a long time much of it
_was_ interesting and informative and is the sort of issue that the firewall
community should be concerned about.
>From what I see it seems as if you would like the list to be a big Q&A forum
where the firewall gods can be harnessed to answer the questions of the
masses. Well sorry but the list is not all like that. In order to keep the
professional firewall people interested there has to be interesting issues
discussed after all, how many times can "How do I configure Firewall-1" be
answered.
If people want specific questions answered then search the archives or post
a question, splitting lists is not going to make someone respond to a
question.
If the list is split into two forums firewalls and firewall-policy with the
jackasses separated into the firewall-policy (who by your own definition
would include yourself). Explain how this reduces traffic without some
moderation there to ensure that the list stays on charter. Without
moderation a list will drift into finding its own level depending on who
participates.
If you want the list to stay on topic then the only way to do this is by
appointing a full time moderator. Speak to Russ over on NTbugtraq and find
out how much fun that is. Most people here I suspect only read the stuff
they're interested in (and have barely enough time to do that) unless there
is someone willing to perform the task of moderating the list then we cope
and if the list volume gets too large then professionals will find / create
a new forum.
If you want to discuss technology then create a list which does this and
then you can have the responsibility of ensuring that it sticks to its
charter. Or you could subscribe to firewall-wizards which seems to be more
technically oriented.
In fact searching my personal archives indicates that the only things you
have posted in the last month or so are complaints about the list structure
which has generated a lot of "hear hear" of "I agree" posts (most of which
have included your entire post btw).
I do think this list has grown significantly in volume but I think the call
that the quality is sliding is a big one. By what criteria, Oh I see, there
isn't as much stuff on here that you want to read. That's a subjective
basis for judgement. What I get out of this list now is different to what I
was getting out of it 12 months ago which is as it should be. Perhaps you
could read the archives or go to digest mode if the volume is to much to
cope with.
Just some food for thought.
-
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