Let's be helpful...WAS Re: [Sigia-l] web writing for kids

[Donna Maurer]

OK, in my attempt to follow my own advice and be polite, I may have obscured the 
point, so I will make it clearer. Please note though, that while I have replied to Ziya's 
message, it is not directed only at him:

1. I personally know inexperienced IAs who are too frightened to *post* to this list 
because they do not want to be told off for being ignorant or not doing their research

2. I personally know semi-experienced IAs who joined this list and quickly left because 
of the amount of venom and bitching and plain poor manners that has occurred over 
the last year or so.

3. I personally know very experienced IAs, who are willing to offer their experience to 
the community, who no longer subscribe to this list or who only occasionally read it 
because of the venom and bitching and rudeness.

4. I personally have searched the archives after being told that something had been 
previously discussed and found that the previous discussion was not relevant to the 
current question (or not found the discussion in question at all). I think I know how to 
search ;)

5. I personally know people who think that this list is reflective of the IA community.

Can I be any more clear?

Filtering out responses from individuals is not a useful approach to this issue if people 
won't post questions and the people who have the skills and experience to answer 
questions aren't here and every significantly interesting thread deteriorates into 
rudeness...

So guys, what are we going to do about it? How can we make this list more 
approachable for new people and more useful for experienced?

Donna


On 9 Mar 2004 at 1:50, Listera wrote:

> Oh, please! An IA frightened to type into a search box and hit the
> Search! button? Give me a break. What's so 'frightening' about telling
> someone that their question has already been covered in a thread
> previously, ready for them to read in the archives?
> 
> Ziya
> Nullius in Verba 
> 
-- 
Donna Maurer
blog: http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/
AOL IM: maadmob