[pct-l] Thoughts on having a healthy mailing list

[Gary Wright]

It was recently stated in another thread:
> These are serious issues that need discussion on the list.


It is important to remember that this list (and most other mailing  
lists of any sort) are not mechanisms by which groups can come to  
some sort of decision via a majority vote or by consensus or by  
endless cajoling by vocal participants. This community is not some  
sort of deliberative group that has a responsibility of any sort to  
issue a report, set a standard, or punish its 'members'.  Lists like  
this are successful to the extent that everyone can, in a reasonably  
polite manner, share their views.  This is not the same thing as  
insisting that the group arrives at some sort of a decision regarding  
each and every topic that arises.

Insisting on a consensus with regard to controversial issues is a  
great way to convert a mailing list into a mind-numbing echo chamber.

For a mailing list to remain vibrant, interesting, and worthwhile,  
each member needs to individually:
   -- refrain from ad nauseam posting on any topic
   -- indulge in deleting messages from their inbox without responding

Radar