FW: [DML] How hard is the life of a DML moderator?

["Chris Parnham" <cp@xxxx>]

List,

Our own small "mailing list", that I often incorrectly call a newsgroup, is
not "Moderated" i.e. censored. With the exception of the odd of bad language
( Stephen) we manage to be civilised with each other. It has the advantage
that any "news" can be out there in seconds, not the 24 hours it typically
takes on the DML.

Here is I think, a very humorous view of a "Moderators task"!

Chrispy...BTW new mag should be with you today/ tomorrow/ very soon.



-----Original Message-----
From: Stragand, Dave [mailto:dave.stragand@xxxx]
Sent: 30 October 2002 20:49
To: DMC News (E-mail)
Subject: [DML] How hard is the life of a DML moderator?


Hi All,

I know what these moderators go through -- as I run 6 different mailing
lists myself, and have been a member of this list for over five years. Want
an idea of how their average day goes? Try following just one imaginary
thread... Let's say that I changed my turn signal light bulb in the 'Vixen',
for instance. How many emails does that generate? About FIVE HUNDRED
emails:

1 to change the light bulb, and to post to the list that the light bulb has
been changed (that's me).

17 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs, and how the light
bulb could have been changed differently, or to caution about the dangers of
changing light bulbs, and/or how light bulbs should only be changed by
approved vendors

7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs.

21 to flame the spell checkers.

20 to correct spelling/grammar in the spelling/grammar flames.

37 to write to the moderators complaining about the light bulb discussion
and its inappropriateness to this list.

22 to post that this list is not about light bulbs and to please take this
thread to the new [DMC-LIGHTBULBS] group at Yahoo Groups!

54 to demand that cross posting to [DMCforum], [NCDMC] and [dmc_electrics]
about changing light bulbs be stopped.

41 to defend the posting to this list saying that we all have light bulbs
and therefore the posts are relevant to this mail list.

106 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy
the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for D's, and what
brands are poor.

5 to say that HID, LED or OLED lightbulbs are better.

10 to post URLs where one can see examples of different light bulbs.

8 to post that the URLs were posted incorrectly, and to post corrected URLs.

2 to post about links they found from the URLs that are relevant to this
list which makes light bulbs relevant to this list.

2 to ask about the differences in Euro-spec lightbulbs.

2 to talk about DMC light bulbs seen in video games/rock
videos/movies/television/etc.

1 to post about the new light bulb vote in the polls section.

3 posts to ask where the polls section is.

19 posts asking about the light bulbs used in "Back to the Future".

12 to concatenate all posts to date, then quote them including all headers
and footers, and then add pointedly, "Me Too."

7 to quote the "Me Too's" and happily add, "Me Three!"

4 to post to the list that they are unsubscribing because they cannot handle
the light bulb controversy.

3 to suggest that someone make a DMC light bulb FAQ.

1 to propose getting all new moderators that are "lightbulb friendly"

4 vendors to say that their bulbs are NOS, better than NOS, or even better
than the sun.

1 post from Martin Gutkowski about how to make your own improved light bulbs
(some soldering skill required).

3 to post light bulb cross-references.

5 to say that those cross-references can be dangerous & to support the
vendors!

3 to talk about how they bought a case of lightbulbs for $1 at a KAPAC
warehouse sale.

7 to say that Delorean One would not sell them any light bulbs.

3 to defend D-One, saying that Ed Bernstein -is- the light; there is no need
for bulbs.

11 to say just take the car to to PJ Grady, DMC Houston, Dave Bauerle, Don
Steger, DMC Joe, etc.

3 to suggest that somehow James Espey has some kind of "light bulb
conspiracy" going on.

2 to say that Lee Seiler's scale DMC lightbulb has -still- not arrived.

1 to say that Lee's light bulb did arrive and is wonderful.

2 emails asking if JZD invented the light bulb.

1 to ask if JZD invented light.

4 from new owners (or non-owners) asking What is a light bulb?/Where is
it?/How can it be changed?

39 emails begging the moderators to please end this thread.

5 to talk about diving in the North Sea to find the original DMC light bulb
dies.

2 to say how those dies would no longer be useful.

1 from the moderator of the week, saying that the light bulb thread is now
dead (unless anyone has anything really new to add)

1 post with new information

1 from the moderator of the week (again), saying that the light bulb thread
is now REALLY dead. =)


In that flurry of 500 emails, just how many get through? NOW you know what
the life of a moderator is like...

-Dave Stragand

VIN #05927
http://www.projectvixen.com


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