On Sun, 16 Jul 2006, Catherine Olanich Raymond wrote: > I think this is an excellent idea and second Fran's recommendation > that we implement it on h-costume.
I have seen this work extraordinarily well on exactly one list -- a list for copyeditors, who are, by definition, able to deal with detailed rules on handling language. However, the system is also backed up by a strong administrative infrastructure on the list, including an extensive set of well-maintained FAQs and two extremely active list managers who will send warnings to people who do not follow the rules, or put them on moderated status. >From the description, it sounds as though the translators' list modeled its tags after the ones established on the copyeditors' list (or maybe the other way around, but I suspect the copyeditors' list is older) -- I know there is some cross-membership. Translators are another group similar to copyeditors, where people tend to be exacting in their use of language, and the purpose of the group is targeted and professional. I'm afraid I don't see such a system as easy to implement on h-cost, where we have a membership that's extremely diverse, representing people from many countries and of varying levels of ease at handling language and niggly bits of formatting. In fact, I have seen such a tagging system attempted for another group, with much the same level of variation as on h-cost, and despite eager support for the tagging system by some members, the burden of following the rules was difficult enough for many others that they simply stopped posting, or came away feeling that they would only post if they absolutely needed to because they were so afraid of getting it wrong and being scolded for it. The group suffered badly and has never recovered its once high posting levels. I consider it an asset of h-cost that it is easy for people to join and to engage in discussion, even if they are new to costuming, new to historic costuming, or new to e-mail lists, and where even newcomers who don't know the lists's traditions are treated, for the most part, with consideration and seriousness, and educated by participation. I have heard people say that the activity and the wealth of expertise on h-cost intimidated them as newcomers, making it hard for them to get up enough courage to post. I would not be inclined to add an extra burden -- real or perceived -- to newcomers or existing members who are not adept communicators. --Robin _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
