--- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, Patrick King
<abrasax93@...> wrote:
> I have to agree with Miker here. This rigid concept
of
> what is "on topic" and what is "off topic"
is
> crippling to real communication, which any board
is
> about. Like real-life conversations, these
threads
> twist and turn. If you find one going on a
tangent
> that doesn't interest you, stop reading it. I do
all
> the time. But yelling "fowl" and "off topic"
inspires
> post like this which really are off topic but need
to
> be said.
Sorry, Patrick, but the purpose of this list is not up for
discussion. It was clearly stated from the beginning and will
remain what it is.
>
> If someone jumps into the middle of a thread trying
to
> sell their book or their car or their
refrigerator,
> that's off topic and they should be and will be
shut
> down. But if a conversation veers in a direction
which
> is less interesting to you, roll with it. There've
got
> to be 15 threads here running all the time. Some
other
> thread will have interest for you. Please
don't
> inhibit our conversations. You can alway,
yourself,
> bring them back to the course you're interested
in
> with a pertinent comment. Censorship is a
bore.
The only two rules in this list are that contributions must
be on topic and that flames are not allowed. This has always
worked well and it will continue to work well. Topics can be
broad, of course, and often have many ramifications. That's
fine. But if somebody is thinking of starting topics that
don't have anything to do with hardboiled and noir
literature, think twice, because it won't be allowed. There
are other lists for discussing those topics, and there's
always the barbershop.
Best,
mrt
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 04 Nov 2007 EST