(specifically: [...] I've always wondered about: when a group of people on a list get into a topic and really start a lively conversation, someone invariably pops up and tells them all to shut up; it's as if they think the list is there to be subscribed to, but not really used. [...])
That's like wondering why some people join lists on concrete topics like Beekeeping and use them to post messages wondering about aspects of list philosophy.
Mind you, concrete is not much used in Beekeeping. The alkaline quality of the cement discourages hive formation.
Personally, I've always wondered why on this list, and almost no other I'm on, every Reply requires machete'ing back a wild thicket of Cc's and multiple To's for various people who have recently spoken in a thread. It's like we (a bunch of list managers) are trying to do it the PRE-listserv way, with hand managed recipient lists, and occasionally remembering to toss in the list itself as an afterthought.
