[APWG] Quoting messages when replying to the list

[Wayne Tyson]

Whew! I envisioned you heroically dumpster-diving and sleeping under plastic 
just to keep the list going.

As to netiquette, it can be taken to extremes. One list's moderator insists 
that responders quote only the parts of the earlier message that are 
relevant to the current post be included. The trick is twofold: to decide 
what is really, really relevant and what isn't (because one gets a nasty 
comment from the moderator or he simply doesn't post the response), and to 
second-guess what every subscriber reading the comment considers relevant. 
This creates a heavy enough workload that I, for one, have just decided to 
stop posting there, and I'm thinking of unsubscribing because some of the 
best commenters have done likewise.

This is one example of the excesses of netiquette (sometimes a front for a 
minority of control-freaks, and OCD victims); if you'd like a fuller 
analysis, I'll respond to your request.

It seems that the bottom-line is whether or not the list policies promote or 
undermine list goals. Trouble is, it is impossible to assess those who are 
not there. I suppose you must know, however, how many subscribers you have 
and how many have unsubscribed.

Thank you again for hosting.

WT


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Olivia Kwong" <plant at plantconservation.org>
To: <apwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: [APWG] Quoting messages when replying to the list


> Thanks for the concern, but I am fine with hosting the lists, Wayne.
>
> The reason for not quoting every single message is that it is part of good 
> internet/list etiquette, also known as netiquette.  Having good netiquette 
> keeps the lists friendly to not only those actively posting, but those 
> actively reading.  Some list subscribers have opted for digest 
> subscriptions, which means several posts are compiled into one long email 
> and having fewer quoted messages makes the digest far easier to browse.
>
> My aim is to have a place for people to have discussions about native 
> plant conservation topics.  This includes making the lists friendly to 
> audiences (again, I include both those that post and those that just read 
> the posts), so that people find the lists useful & easy enough to remain 
> subscribed.
>
> Olivia
> CPC/PCA
> http://www.nps.gov/plants/
>
> On Mon, 5 Mar 2012, Wayne Tyson wrote:
>
>> Olivia, I am getting concerned that you are bearing too much of a burden 
>> since the cost of maintaining this list is coming out of your own pocket. 
>> Would you tell us how much money is involved? Maybe some of us can help.
>>
>> Gratefully,
>> WT
>>
>> PS: I have "quoted" your email so that others may know what I'm talking 
>> about.
>
>
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