RE: [GBlist] Interest in moderated on-topic discussion?

["Matt Duston" <mountainsun@pcisys.net>]

I have to agree regarding the off-topic discussions.  I used to spend a few
hours a week reading and responding to posts on this list.  Now I spend a
few hours a week searching the morass of threads to find ONE on the topic of
greenbuilding, and tiring out my delete finger on the dozens of others.  I
have nothing AT ALL against people expressing their opinions about
everything from nuclear energy to taxation to drilling in the ANWR, but
couldn't they find a more appropriate forum for it?  As David said, when new
people join the list looking for solid information or assistance on
greenbuilding and see 50 posts on taxation, they are pretty likely to look
elsewhere for their help.  And then what purpose are we serving?

I follow this list to offer my experience to neophyte greenbuilders, and to
engage in discussions with other professionals to further my own knowledge.
If I wanted to hear people's opinions on Bush's energy policy I would go
find a list on that topic.  Again I don't want to censor anyone (as there
are plenty of places they can discuss policy), just return us to our
original purpose.  I think that a LIGHTLY moderated list would put us back
on that track.

Matt Duston
The Catamount Institute
www.catamount.coloradocollege.edu
719.687.0929

Sustainability...Science...Systems...Service...Spirit...Stewardship

-----Original Message-----
From: David Delaney [mailto:ddelaney@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 10:15 AM
To: greenbuilding@crest.org
Subject: Re: [GBlist] Interest in moderated on-topic discussion?


There is not enough discussion of green building
on the greenbuilding list.  The digressions would
be less harmful if they were surrounded by a
large volume of on-topic discussion.

The problem with the off-topic arguments is that
they make the list look like a hundred other
lists.   I believe the people I want to hear
from, professionals in building, and amateurs who
are engaged in building,   take the ratio of
off-topic to on-topic discussion as a sign that
the list is a time waster.  It may be that if the
list were moderated to reduce this ratio, these
people might be attracted back.

David Delaney


______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________


______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________