When they all got started some decades ago, only a few people
had the privledge of being able to use the internet and the
news groups. Many communities of like-interested people formed.
These were really communities, a variety of people who had
a similar interest but not always similar ideas. But most
every one got along fine. It was like walking into your favorite
coffee house to meet with friends.
A few years ago, there was this big boom of PCs and politics
and the internet became a (almost) household word. Everyone
who had the slightest interest in computers could gain access
to the internet and the news groups. The diversity of people
did not make for a nice community anymore. The quite coffee
house environment was invaded by people who with no knowledge
of the group could come in and shout their opinions without
regards for polite protocol. And with no repercusions.
Some of the news groups survived intact. Others had spin offs.
And a few actually died. One of the consequesences of the
invasion was the development of mailing lists. On the mailing
lists, you could only join by invitation, and you could be
kicked out by the list owner. These mailing lists have, for the
most part, retained their coffee house atmostphere. We meet
as friends, some times dropping in, some times dropping out,
and generally agreeing on the topic, or disagreeing in an
agreeable way. While not as open as the notes groups where
anyone can join, the lists are more of an open club with rules
to be followed. Not following the rules means you are out of
the club and the rest of the members don't have to listen to
the incorrect behavior of the kicked out person.
I stayed in the rec.equestrian group for a long time. When the
amount of noise exceeded the amount of information I was getting,
I quit the group and joined equine-l. Here the amount of noise
is very small, and tolerated only if it relates in a small way
to equestrian activities. If some one were to invade the group
and start flaming, I'm sure the list owner would take quick steps
to remove that person from the list. So, it has remained an
enjoyable group for me. Similarly the endurance list has a very
high signal to noise ratio. While we do stray into non-endurance
topics on occassion, these detours are generally friendly and
have something to do with horses.
I've met people from the rec.equestrain group as a result of the
group, and I've met people from the list groups. Both groups
have served as a place to talk about my favorite subjects. I
find that now the lists are friendlier and stay on topic better.
End lecture for the day:-)
-- Wendy\|/ /\ -O- /**\ /|\ /****\ /\ / \ /**\ Here there be dragons / /\ / \ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\/\ /\ / / \ / \ / \/\/ \/ \ /\/ \/\ /\ /\/ / / \/ \ / / \/ /\ \ / \ \ / \/ / / \/ \/ \ / \ \ / / \/ \/\ \ / \ / / \ __/__/_______/___/__\___\__________________________________________________
Wendy Milner HPDesk: wendy_milner@hp4000 Training Development Engineer HP-UX: wendy@fc.hp.com Mail Stop 46 Telnet: 229-2182 3404 E. Harmony Rd. AT&T: (970) 229-2182 Fort Collins, CO, 80525 FAX: (970) 229-4292