What might be helpful is if someone has a large list of other mailing lists,
then maybe gnac can publish it bi-weekly or something to the firewalls list.
That way everyone knows where to find help for their posts that aren't
appropriate for this group. For example, if someone wanted help on a Sun
issue that had nothing to do with firewalls, he could reference the
bi-weekly post and see that he should post to the Sun mailing list.
I've noticed that a number of people start their messages with, "Sorry this
is off-topic, but..." or something. If they knew the appropriate resource,
many would probably be responsible and post to such lists instead of this
one. Right now, though, I think a number of people don't have a clue where
the proper place is to post, so they post here since they know there's a
broad knowledge base they can tap.
Other mailing lists have occasional info messages to say what posts are
appropriate for the list and what aren't. The one I'm suggesting could have
a standard subject header, so for those of us who don't want to see these
repetitive messages, we can filter them to go to the circular file so we
don't have to see them.
As for the posts that are firewalls-related but are just full of metaphors,
analogies, and rhetoric, I don't know how to prevent those unless a
moderator is enacted. I myself wouldn't want that thankless job, though!
:)
If the list feels this is a good idea, and if gnac is interested in doing
this, I can supply the names of some of the other mailing lists. I'm sure
others on this list know of a number of other lists I'm unfamiliar with.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bayard G. Bell [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 4:26 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Call for self-Moderation
>
> Does this list need moderation?
>
> It seems that most of the traffic lately has been labored sophistry on
> metaphors, analogies, and other rhetorical figures. Not that such
> rhetoric is opposed to technology, but it seems to have little to do
> with the announced topic of this list: "firewalls" and seems to be
> distracting from that topic considerably.
>
> Additionally, I have noted an increasing amount of traffic dedicated to
> subjects such as IDS, which have their own lists through organizations
> such as ISS. Given that it has already been pointed out that separate
> lists exist for subjects such as "cyber-law" and that the discussion of
> off-topic subjects seems remarkably consistent in its lack of insight,
> it seems that this list may benefit from some relocation of topics to
> dedicated and specific forums. The alternative is filling up it with
> polemical posts that are likely to turn off those who are subscribed to
> this list for information about its announced subject.
>
> To put it another way, it seems that there are a number of areas that
> are not properly firewall technology which may also be of interest to
> those who administer firewalls. While competence in these areas might
> be important to firewall administrators and thus appropriate for
> discussion on this list, it seems that the current mode of discussion
> smacks of dilettantism and that those who need to develop competence in
> these areas would benefit from a nuanced consideration that is better
> attuned to the specific issues at hand, in areas such as law which the
> members of this list seem to be burying in conjecture and anecdotes.
>
> From one subscriber to the rest, I ask that we do a better job of
> self-moderation to keep this list viable. << File: Card for Bayard G. Bell
> >>
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