I have been a member of this list since 1997. I have always enjoyed
reading the posts, whether they be "social" or "scientific." (In
fact, the only posts I simply don't read are the fur color/genetics
posts, as I am not a breeder.) Thus, it is with some dismay that I
have observed the recent disputes on the list, and the potential
fracturing of the GML. My personal feeling on this is that the
departure from the GML of some members is hardly a mass exodus. I
believe that owing to the basically difficult and complex nature of
life, it is not always feasible for people to respond to dozens of
e-mails a day, whether they are about social matters or cutting edge
breakthroughs in the world of the order rodentia. Moreover, as it has
been noted, many experts are breeders, and breeding is expensive and,
for lack of a better term, "bulky." Several of our experts have
simply left the practice of breeding. Still others are young people
who are moving into other interests in life, or simply lack the time
to devote to online communication that they would otherwise devote to
the hobby of breeding itself. (Anyone remember the Gerbil Club of
Missouri? :) ) I think that, in time, the GML will adapt to and
compensate for these fluctuations in membership.
However, the GML is in chaos, and as an invaluable repository of
gerbil-related information, we must keep it alive at all costs. With
that in mind, I have a suggestion. Please don't shoot me down or
flame me right off the bat! It's just an idea!
Perhaps the time has come for us to evolve into a web-based bulletin
board (hereafter, "BB") format.
There are many things to recommend such a format.
(1) No need to download messages, which can be costly for some
GMLers.
(2) No need for two separate formats. Purely social and purely
scientific topics can be posted in one place, eliminating confusion.
You simply create separate "forums" for different categories of
topics. On one of my favorite boards, we even have a "Chit Chat"
forum!
(3) Importantly, members can read and respond to any or all posts or
topics they wish. They can simply ignore anything that doesn't
interest them.
(4) The BB format may or may not be moderated, depending on the
desire of list members. On a BB to which I belong, various
long-standing board members have volunteered to moderate various
forums, or topic areas. This promotes a real "caretaker" interest in
keeping the board, and the individual forums, vibrant, clean, and "on
point."
(5) Enforcement of charters and rules is simpler and more effective,
because registration is mandatory and members can be sanctioned or
even evicted if they fail to comply with BB rules. (Of course,
troublemakers can continue their wicked ways by assuming multiple
aliases, but I do not see a reasonable solution to this problem short
of prohibiting free e-mail based accounts, such as HotMail or Yahoo.
And I think such a "solution" is far too extreme for the problem. At
any rate, this has not been a problem on any of the BBs in which I
have participated. The few troublemakers who do show up are ignored,
get bored, and go away.)
Of course, there is one great problem with this idea (and it is a
doozy), that being that BBs are typically licensed to and owned by an
administrator. This would involve a not insignificant outlay of time
and cash. I have only just started looking, and perhaps there might
be some freeware alternative BB formats available. However, someone
would still have to be willing to set up the board and administer it.
And we would have to agree on BB rules (I know, I know, the
probability of consensus is minimal), although perhaps a modification
of the GML charter would suffice.
I have put about forty minutes into writing this, in the hopes that it
will promote discussion and ideas better than mine! If anyone is
interested in seeing a link to a BB that REALLY works, mail me
privately. This board, devoted to the topic of German Shepherd Dogs,
is a classic example of how well a BB can work as a community and as a
repository of information. The board is, bar none, the best source of
GSD information I have found anywhere, ever. Breeders and "keepers"
co-exist with few problems, but share information and friendships, and
manage to solve complicated problems together. It is truly a "virtual
community."
I have undoubtedly overlooked many deficiencies in the suggestion, and
these will surely be addressed and hopefully debated. And please
allow me to clarify: I LOVE this list! I want to see it survive, and
thrive. Maybe the best way to do that is to evolve. Then again,
maybe not. This suggestion is just that: a suggestion. Food for
thought, and nothing more. I've tried to think it through clearly,
but surely others will have more and better ideas.
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Amy Yolanda Castillo
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
