At 09:42 AM 1/31/97 EST, Michael commenting to Jason, wrote:
>Jason Tibbitts wrote:
>
>> I believe that several others are missing a larger point; this pointless
>> discussion has nothing to do with mailing list management.
>
>Touche!. Being on the uninstalled side of the status of a novice
>mail list manager, I joined this list two days ago to listen in for
>tips and background info for managing mail lists in general.
>Instead, I've mostly been subjected to the merits of AOL and
>"opinions" and vitriol of others about that same organization.
I would have to disagree. The AOL discussions on the List the
past few days have been stimulating and timely, given the news
that has been daily forthcoming from AOL's troubles. With 8 million
users of their online services, odds are that many of us have
a significant number of AOL subscribers on our lists. The point
of those debates were not only to help us technically manage our
lists, but to formulate and develop an understanding with the
whole mess that is going on in AOL today.
As an owner and administrator of mailing lists, I want to be
more than just a button pusher. To manage subscriber mail bounces
takes an awareness outside the purely technical aspects of the
bounce itself. Trying to manage a mailing list without looking
to the human factors makes you no different that the automatons
that are our tools of the trade.
The ongoing AOL debate itself gave me some of the tools and
background information that you allude to. Presence of thought
is our best tool as list managers.
>Needless to say, I'm disappointed if the last couple of days is
>indicative of the quality of discussion on this list.
>
>Can't we all just get along here, and take the AOL vitriol somewhere
>else?
I saw no vitriol. I saw no flaming. I saw a difference of opinion
in a list debate. And that debate served to aid me in formulating
my own opinions of how best to deal with AOL subscribers.
My knowledge of the technical aspects of managing a mailing list
is limited. I enjoy reading the technical reports and discussions
on this List and learning more in that area, but I would never want
all posts limited to those discussions. I want to read about the human
aspects of mailing lists. As far as the technical stuph goes, I pay a
service to handle those chores. In the final analysis, the only thing
required of any of us to run a mailing list, is the ability to think.
Alan S. Harrell
Juno_accmail List
ASHcan-L
ASHandRR@TGN.net
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