ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] [Stories and Gilroy Hot Springs NATRC

[endurance] [Stories and Gilroy Hot Springs NATRC

Linda Cowles @ PCB x5624 (linda_cowles@MENTORG.COM)
Mon, 20 May 1996 09:52:35 -0700

> There is nothing quite so dull as a listing of ride results
...
> But a good story, with the tears and cheers, the struggle to overcome, the
> questions, the answers....this is what endurance riding is about......

Hi Folks,

The issue is clarity and conciseness.

I, too, enjoy stories - *short* stories! Some recent posts have been 75 and
100+ lines long! That's a *long* on a list serving 400 individuals. Many
subscribers that I know personally are DELETING their digest mail before
reading, because they don't have the time to read or scan through all of
these long posts, and are talking about dropping off of the list. They are
seasoned CTR and endurance riders, judges and vets, with many hundreds of
miles to their names, holders of numerous awards in both AERC & CTR events.
Do we *want* to loose any of our pros? They can add so much to the list and
to the education of the novice members, but many don't interact on the list.
I've been told it's because there is just too much chatter.

Many of the folks that got on this list early on, many top 10 riders, have
stopped interacting. Other endurance-wise friends that I've urged to join
won't, because of the volume of mail. The volume on this list turns them off.
Long posts make the volume appear greater.

PLEASE keep this in mind when you post those great stories, edit them to
be as concise as you can without loosing the content... If you really enjoy
a "chatty" list, there are several great ones out there. I think we all need
to make an effort to get to the point in our posts - me too! ;^)

My vote is to take the long stories, marginally off-topic discussions
(extended apparel talk) and friendly chit-chat stuff off-line before we
loose more of the _experts_ that make this group interesting & valuable.

Later! Linda Cowles (racing to pull on the flame-retardant netware!!!!)
Gilroy, California