Date: Sun, 06 May 2001 13:45:17 -0700 From: Michael Polesky Subject: ADMINISTRATIVE: Important to Read!
Hi All,
There have been a few things going on I wanted to point out as hampering the Harp-L from maintaining the highest quality of discussion. First, we should always give a WARM welcome to new and returning users! You know who you are. It's like giving your mother a vacuum for Mother's Day. We can devote at least that much brain matter to being nice. Next, we should have some patience for recurring themes, threads, questions and explanations. Aside from entertaining us individually, Harp-L is also meant to be a service for a very broad number of users from a wide spectrum of levels of experience. I would like to point out that we got lots of replies on "boring" threads, but no one replied to one of our members who enquired about overdraws - despite the vast experience, knowledge and capability of our readers. Most of you know that I can't answer that question myself - but I am working on it ;-). Yes Paul, I finally ordered a diatonic from Jimmy Gordon to start my foray into the over-blow world (look what you guys have done to me!).
I think this issue falls under the category of "learning to ignore". Patience is a better description, but for those who get most easily riled or provoked, learning to ignore is a great asset. Not everything requires a reply or a comment. You do not need to read every post. Most of the recent griping has been about things that are ultimately very appropriate for Harp-L. I think it is important we sacrifice a few bytes of download time or cost for the purpose of reaching out to ever farther and more numerous incarnations of the harmonica art. This means that both mundane and detailed questions, answers and comments should be tolerated - even if it is a little boring ;-).
A final note, aside from becoming riled by certain repetitive threads, occasionally one of our members becomes easily provoked by posts of all sorts and engages in a mail campaign off-list designed to discourage certain members from expressing their views. I look VERY dimly upon this and I do take action towards those who do this when I am aware. Feel free to inform me if someone is engaging in such a campaign. Nothing that is appropriate on list could possible warrant such a response. If the post to the list was wholly inappropriate, you can be assured I will deal with it, so it does not require such a response as well. Either way, it is bad netiquette that can result in serious remedies. Just a reminder.
My best advice, as always - use your good judgment. Don't say anything that is specifically meant to embarrass or provoke others. Allow people their say and ignore what you don't wish to see. Above all have fun!!
