My message to the SprinklerFORUM about the number of responses to a
"test message" elicited a lot of response from the "silent masses"
out there....
Over the years, the SprinklerFORUM has been amazingly self-regulating
and we seldom have to step forward to stop flames, fights, needless
messages, etc. But a review of messages for the past few months
indicates that we need to be more clear about several issues. The
SprinklerFORUM is not a club of a few like-minded people. It is a
service offered by AFSA that includes over 700 subscribers who want
to exchange technical information.
PERSONAL MESSAGES - When you send a message to the forum, it is
received by more than 700 people. If your message is a response to
another message and it is personal in nature, send that message to
the individual's PRIVATE email address - not to the hundreds of
people who want to receive technical forum messages. I've seen
discussions on a number of personal, non-technical issues. Please use
private email and don't bore the rest of the subscribers.
TEST MESSAGES
So you wonder if the forum is working? Well, if you haven't received
any messages recently then something is wrong -- this is a very
active group and there are usually between ten and thirty messages
posted daily (weekends excluded). If you aren't receiving forum
messages, it could be an issue with the email provider blocking the
messages or your new spam filter doesn't realize the importance of
the forum. This frequently happens. If in doubt, send me an email (to
my PRIVATE address of [EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get it
worked out - but don't send a test message to 700 people.
IDLE CHATTER
Before you hit the SEND button, re-read your message and determine if
it is technical in nature. If this is just idle banter among friends,
why are you sending it to 700 people. Send personal email.
ARCHIVES
Before your hit that SEND button, think about how this message will
look in the SprinklerFORUM archives two years hence. Is it relevant?
Will it be helpful to someone looking for answers, or will it be
viewed as garbage littering a valuable technical archive?
SPRINKLERCHAT
AFSA DOES sponsor SprinklerCHAT, another email list that is designed
to cover general business, sprinkler industry non-technical issues.
If your issues isn't technical, consider subscribing and posting
messages to that list rather than the forum.I don't get all bent out
of shape with stuff posted to SprinklerCHAT (within reason).
Most of us receive way too much email, and we struggle to keep the
level down to a manageable size. When the forum has thirty messages
posted a day, and a significant number are idle chatter or personal
notes, people wonder if the value derived from the forum is worth the
grief they put up with in getting rid of the trash. We are really
tolerant of mistakes, as long as they are really mistakes. Sometimes
you mean to send a note to an individual but you end up sending it to
the forum. We aren't going to string you up for this -- as long as
this doesn't become a habit. If it does become a habit and privileges
are being abused, we might have to suspend your ability to post
messages for awhile. Don't worry, though.... if it becomes necessary
to smack your knuckles because of inappropriate messages on the
forum, I won't send that critical email to the 700 subscribers. I'll
handle it through personal email. ;-)
Like over 700 other subscribers, I truly value the contributions made
by many members of this SprinklerFORUM. It is a wonderful resource,
and would not be so if it were not for the helping nature of those
who subscribe and participate!
Steve A. Muncy, CAE - President
American Fire Sprinkler Assn.
Dallas, TX
http://www.firesprinkler.org
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