As I said, and as you seem to be cementing... perhaps a related and 
moderated list is the way to go.

I've seen too many good ideas fall by the wayside in this industry, if 
there is a need for a moderated list then members, ideas and legitimate 
complaints will flow, so I'd suggest you take the approach of Niké 
marketers and ''Just do it" ;)

Cheers

Larry Bloch wrote:

>Trent,
>
>Moderating a list is a thankless task - definitely.
>
>I'm not so sure that "no news is good news" in this list's case. I think its
>probably fairer to say no news is an indication that the real issues are not
>being raised in this forum, and that is a pity. Why are the issues not being
>discussed here? Because the list lacks credibility as a place where useful
>debate happens, and that’s an historical fact.
>
>This list has been over used for outbursts (as we have seen yesterday),
>vitriolic personal attacks, loony conspiracy theorists, hatchet jobs and the
>like. You only have to go back and see Chris Disspain's written comments on
>his attitude to posting to this list to see a reflection of that reality.
>His frustration with the manner and tone of postings is shared by many of
>the professionals in this industry who as a result lurk but steer clear of
>posting.
>
>If all of us subscribed want to get something more that the odd bit of news
>out of the list, then as a community we need to have some sort of acceptable
>use standards - formal or otherwise. And I take your point that the recent
>episode did resolve in a 'natural order' way. Its just a little inefficient
>sometimes.
>
>Larry
>
>
>
>  
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: trent§sos.net.au [mailto:trent§sos.net.au] 
>>Sent: Tuesday, 22 March 2005 11:46
>>To: dns§dotau.org
>>Subject: Re: [DNS] List rules
>>
>>
>>Larry,
>>In theory, this would be great, but Kim, at least I assume it 
>>was Kim, 
>>has outlined in the first line of the policy that this list 
>>is unmoderated.
>>
>>Like your own post, my point is subjective. The 'other thread' is 
>>history and it was self moderated to a degree. In so doing, 
>>if just one 
>>person took some form of education away from it, then 
>>although annoying, 
>>it served its purpose. That might mean fewer of these outbursts and I 
>>know that's hoping for allot, but I'm a hopeful kind of guy ;)
>>
>>If Kim wishes to moderate, that's his decision as list 
>>manager, but it 
>>is a time issue, so I for one would understand if he chooses 
>>not to. In the mean time, the list, as Sean pointed out, 
>>generally moves along 
>>at a dead crawl. This is indicative of the "no news is good news" 
>>cliché, and we can, as Vic pointed out, use the good ol' D key when 
>>someone won't leave well enough alone.
>>
>>Having said all that, and provided you have the time Larry, perhaps a 
>>related list is something you feel would be in order? 'Any' list 
>>generates information we can potentially learn from, and I would 
>>definitely have a look at the focus of any new list that 
>>might assist me 
>>in advising clients and colleagues.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Larry Bloch wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Kim,
>>>
>>>Are there list rules? If so, can you post them to the list?
>>>
>>>If not, perhaps as a collaborative project, the list can 
>>>      
>>>
>>agree a set of 
>>    
>>
>>>guiding principles you can use to rapidly bring sanity back when the 
>>>odd individual gets cranked up (pun intended).
>>>
>>>I would go for some items such as:
>>>
>>>- postings to be relevant to the subject line and the 
>>>      
>>>
>>general theme of 
>>    
>>
>>>DNS issues
>>>- restrictions on threads that are generally held to be 
>>>      
>>>
>>unproductive 
>>    
>>
>>>jousting between two protagonists
>>>- one warning by the moderator prior to being banned for a 
>>>      
>>>
>>cooling off 
>>    
>>
>>>period (24 hours)
>>>- moderator ability to ban a thread
>>>
>>>I know some of this is subjective, but at least it gives a moderator 
>>>the ability to apply some common sense when it is evident 
>>>      
>>>
>>that none is 
>>    
>>
>>>being exercised.
>>>
>>>I don't think anyone wants a heavily moderated list, but lists being 
>>>what they are, moderation is necessary to maintain 
>>>      
>>>
>>relevance. This list 
>>    
>>
>>>is the only public resource for raising and getting feedback on DNS 
>>>issues and I for one would like to see it become much more active. 
>>>Despite the relatively hassle free nature of .AU at present, 
>>>      
>>>
>>as those 
>>    
>>
>>>involved with auDA well know, there are a multitude of issues that 
>>>affect this industry that pass with no debate for want of a well 
>>>functioning forum.
>>>
>>>At present topics in this category include the upcoming 
>>>      
>>>
>>tender for the 
>>    
>>
>>>.au registry, the release of geographic .com.au and .net.au names, 
>>>auDA's plan to use the proceeds of this release to fund 
>>>      
>>>
>>aspects of the 
>>    
>>
>>>management/operations of the community geographic names 
>>>      
>>>
>>(sydney.nsw.au 
>>    
>>
>>>etc), the auDA Foundation which has received about $2m of 
>>>      
>>>
>>auDA funds to 
>>    
>>
>>>distribute as grants and many many more topics.
>>>
>>>I would very much like to provide transparency to the .AU 
>>>      
>>>
>>industry and 
>>    
>>
>>>community about many of these issues - after all that's part 
>>>      
>>>
>>of what I 
>>    
>>
>>>stood for in becoming an auDA supply side representative. However, 
>>>without adequate moderator protection, many otherwise useful and 
>>>serious contributors will not post because of the crackpots who lack 
>>>respect for the rest of the members of this forum.
>>>
>>>There have been calls for moderation before this. At this point, if 
>>>nothing can be done to make this list relevant, perhaps we should 
>>>consider creating a new list with stronger guidelines?
>>>
>>>Larry
>>> 
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>--------------------------------------------------------------
>>-------------
>>List policy, unsubscribing and archives => http://dotau.org/ 
>>Please do not retransmit articles on this list without 
>>permission of the 
>>author, further information at the above URL.
>>    
>>