Message-Id: <199805141606.JAA16523@baygate.bayarea.net>
Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 08:49:23 -0700
To: Detailed Revision/Update of Message Standards <drums@cs.utk.edu>
From: Dave Crocker <dcrocker@brandenburg.com>
Subject: Less frustrating mailing list interactions
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References: <19980513091211.7972.qmail@cr.yp.to>
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Folks,

We've developed into an unfortunately expensive pattern of interactions on
this list and I would like to suggest that we all consider a slight change
to the way we respond to suggestions and criticisms, at least in some cases.

If you see a note which is critical, rather than constructive, and
especially if your reaction is a large sigh and a muttered "oh, no, not
again", or the like, let me suggest that you not respond to it and,
particularly, not respond with a defense against the attack.

If the note is followed by supportive comments from others, THEN we need to
engage in a debate, because at that point it will be clear there is a
meaningful constituency for the concerns being raised.  

If no one else takes up the line of attack, then the posting has no support
and does not warrant a response.

Over the last week or so, we've had 3 or 4 such lines of attack get
extensive defensive.  What has occurred to me is that none of them got any
support, so that we would have accomplished exactly the same outcome if
none of us had responded to the attacks.

And we'd have consumed far less bandwidth.

Think about it.

d/

_________________________________________________________________________
Dave Crocker                Brandenburg Consulting        +1 408 246 8253
dcrocker@brandenburg.com      675 Spruce Drive        (f) +1 408 273 6464
www.brandenburg.com        Sunnyvale, CA 94086  USA