Yes, filtering can help, but only to a certain degree. Trying to filter PICList mail is like trying to filter the internet. Filter out religion and you miss the perfectly on topic message that happens to say "And stop sending religious messages" at the bottom. Not to say filtering doesn't work but you're back to the problem of having to force everyone to follow standards. Like the OT as opposed to Way OT etc. Computers aren't high on the intelligence side remember. Another problem is what is actually too OT to be on the list. Obviously there is no question in most cases but in some cases it's a little less clear. For instance the Home SMD topic a while back. Not really PIC related as MChip are one of the few companies which have basically all products in pin through hole packages. Yet that topic was found useful by a lot of people (at least judging by replies). Then of course there are the topics like the "How many PICs to save JFK jr" that drag on a little. I think the main thing is to get of the PICList when appropriate on an OT. I don't mind the occasional (or even a bit more than occasional) OT as long as it is properly marked, has some sort of relevance (i.e. not religious\political\non electronics crap) and it doesn't drag on. If there's actual discussion and the topic has some degree of relevance to PICs then I think there is some point to it being on the PICList. But when a topic consists of only a couple of people simply arguing then pretty much regardless of the topic it should be made private. One thing that may help would be some kind of penalty system. I don't know quite how you could do it. Maybe a OT quota. Something so that people who stupidly continue blatantly OT topics (like the current "Re: [WOT] Christianity questioned (was: Re: Accelerometer source(s) needed)" which should have gone private about 3 messages ago) are in some way penalised (not in a bad way, just something to think of next time). The most unfotunate thing is when experienced people who have devoted a great deal of their time to this list are driven away for whatever reasons. Unfortunately it is the experienced people who have the least to gain from this list (they tend to be here to help other people as much as to get help like newbies such as myself) so are driven away sooner. Oh ansd sorry for length but I fail to see how the PICList can not be a valid topic on the PICList (Although it still should be labelled OT). Tom. ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Graziano To: Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 1:51 PM Subject: Re: [OT] Re: A plea for focus. . . > I can set a filter up for anything I do not want to read > Richard > > Bob Wake wrote: > > > > 1. Only send to the list things related to PIC processors, support tools and projects. Ignore anything not related. > > > > And let's especially keep away from Religion and Politics, please! > > I come here to get away from all that!