TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> If you have comments or ideas, I'd welcome them.
I have an idea: one post per day rule.
If people could only post one response per day, they might start thinking a
little more about what they were posting.
There are some people here who fire off 15 and 20 posts per day, chattering
about stuff or arguing over nits. Forcing them to wait 24 hours before they
could post another response might prevent them from ever posting them in the
first place. This rule would dramatically cut down on chatter and off-topic
responses.
It would also help equalize the list. Currently, there are about a dozen list
members who dominate practically every topic on the board. They respond to
almost every thread and they often start 2 and 3 new threads each day. Limiting
everybody to 1 post per day, would end their dominance and equalize the list.
Less prolific members would have a better chance at getting their ideas heard.
They wouldn't be overshadowed by the more prolific posters.
The one-post per day rule would also slow down debates. That might make people
think more rationally about their responses. Since you could only reply to ONE
post per day, you couldn't just stick your nose into any old thread just
because you want to get your two-cents in or take a rude swipe at another list
member.
I have seen other lists do this, and the results were amazing. Within 2 months,
the list was considerably more civil. A lot of the noisy and rude people just
left. Without an outlet for their posturing, they moved to other lists. The
people that stayed were a lot happier. It also brought out a lot of lurkers.
Some of whom contributed great things.
I imagine this is also very easy to implement. The list already has a posting
limit on it. Just lower that number to 1. Furthermore, this rule could be
temporary. After 2 months, up the number to 3 posts per day, for example.
One post per day - it works. We should do it.
Andrew Plato
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com
ANNOUNCING ROBOHELP STUDIO
Create professional Help systems that feature interactive tutorials and
demos with all new RoboHelp Studio. More at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l2
Mercer University's online MS Program in Technical Communication Management:
Preparing leaders of tomorrow's technical communication organizations today.
See www.mercer.edu/mstco or write George Hayhoe at hayhoe_g -at- mercer -dot- edu -dot-
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
