[prog] Possible closure of this mailing list
Darlene Wallach
freepalestin at dslextreme.com
Thu Jun 7 14:25:22 UTC 2007
H. McManus wrote:
> Hi Mary and list members,
>
> I'd like to echo what others have said and say I think it would be a
> shame if this list were to disappear.
>
> Mary, I'd like to address some of your comments inline below.
>
>
>
>>This list seems under-used for a technical list. It had a total of 114
>>messages posted in 2006, and so far has had 13 in 2007. This is much
>>much lower than techtalk, where programming is also on topic. techtalk
>>has about 700 or 800 messages a year.
>>
>
>
> Quantity is no indicator of quality what so ever. This list mightn't
> get the same volume of posts, but by the same token this list has
> never ever seen an argument nor an off topic post. Just a very high
> quality of response.
>
>
>
>
>> - a lot of lists confuses people about which ones to subscribe to
>>
>
>
> I don't see how having to choose between separate lists is any more
> confusing/difficult then having to choose between multiple topics in
> the one list. I also believe using the topic feature of mailman is a
> less than optimal solution for the simple reason it relies on a
> person remembering to do the right thing. A system that works only
> some of the time is largely pointless.
>
>
>
>
>> - it adds to our list admin load
>>
>
>
> If admin is a problem then I will be more than happy to admin
> programming@
>
>
>
>
>> - it separates people from the larger groups that could help them
>>
>
>
> No, what it does is put people in touch with the most appropriate
> group to help them. No point reaching an audience of x hundred
> readers if only a couple are interested and/or capable of responding.
> With this list, the posts will always reach the most appropriate and
> interested readers.
>
>
>
>
>>1. why either you think the traffic will increase markedly or the
>>present level isn't a problem
>>
>
>
> I don't think it will, but I don't see why the present level is a
> problem. This list is being used as is it needed. The low volume
> means it's very to easy to take lots of time to read and respond
> fully when there is a post. Look at the last thread on structures -
> some respondents put a lot of effort into what they wrote, something
> I don't think would happen on a really busy list.
>
> I'm a little bit worried about what I perceive to be a mentality of
> if a list isn't overflowing with posts then there must be something
> wrong with it. This isn't some corporate body where if you don't use
> your annual budget then next year's will be reduced accordingly. This
> list is no busier nor quieter than what it needs to be in order to be
> a helpful list.
>
> Perhaps if the programming threads that appear on techtalk were to be
> diverted here, things might pick up?
>
>
>
>
>>2. why merging with techtalk would be a bad idea
>>
>
>
> Because techtalk is not the appropriate place. There is overlap
> between discussing technical issues and programming, but they aren't
> the same thing. Just as I'm not necessarily interested in someone's
> packaging woes, someone asking how to setup NAT with iptables is not
> going to be the slightest bit interested in overloading java methods.
> I do realise you can set up the whole mailman topic thing, but to me
> it's a less than ideal solution to a problem that doesn't necessarily
> exist.
>
> Hamster.
>
Mary,
Hamster made execellent points. Please keep the
programming list, do not close it.
Thank you for your consideration,
Darlene
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