-----Original Message----- From: Reginald Neale To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Date: Monday, January 25, 1999 8:44 AM Subject: Re: OT: getting on >>Hi all, >> >>I am wondering! What is the average age of piclist subscribers? >>I usually hear stories about the 70s, which unfortunately I was still a >>baby. >> >>BTW, I am still 26 :). >> >>regards, >>Reggie A month ago - the day after Christmas - when the piclist was quiet and its digest length small, I got soundly criticised for daring to ask an 'off topic' item about problems programming an Atmel uC. So I am a bit sensitive to definitely off-topic stuff like the above, especially as the person who heaped shit on me at that time has not said 'boo'. I love to read the electronics related threads. They are a true education. But it annoys me to start to read and then have to PgDn over a seemingly increasing amount of completely OT items in which I have not the slightest interest. 2. If you have stayed with me so far I will give my observations about moderated groups. I get several. The ones with no moderation are the worst; information content per posting is very low. Personal abuse & shouting are the norm. While the one which is ruthlessly moderated is the best. In the Healthfraud newsgroup medically qualified doctors, PhD's and chiropractors are coexisting in a rational, adult debate about HF, chiropractic and its 'scientific' base. (Even I was surprised when a doctor who made some jokes about penis length in a debate on circumcision last week was summarily dismissed from the list.) But almost every post is a gem of information about healthfraud and related topics. What has this to do with this list. I would just propose to the owner of the list that a bit more regulation of non-electronic OT items may increase the value of the list to all readers. regards, Peter ------------------------------------------------- Peter J. Crowcroft DIY ELECTRONICS (HK) Ltd PO Box 88458, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong Voice: 852-2720 0255 Fax: 852-2725 0610 Web: http://kitsrus.com -------------------------------------------------