[12532] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: No PACS-L Mail
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Thom Gillespie)
Thu Oct 29 20:08:14 1998
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 13:53:24 -0500
From: Thom Gillespie <thom@copper.ucs.indiana.edu>
In-Reply-To: <0F1K00GC80NPY4@Post-Office.UH.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
On Wed, 28 Oct 1998, Public-Access Computer Systems Forum wrote:
> From: Shirl Kennedy <sdk@mindspring.com>
> Subject: Re: No PACS-L Mail
>
> I guess the WEB4LIB mailing list has siphoned off a lot of this kind of
> traffic...
Which brings us around to my original point: moderated or unmoderated.
web4Lib is well unmoderated by Roy Tennant
Pacs-L is moderated
I'm sure if all the messages to Pacs-L were saved you could actually plot
the decline in messages from the rise of the moderator and the increase of
the "Please do not reply to the list" message which began big time about
4 years ago. The original arguments were that the moderator is like the
editor which was pretty false back then and still is. Editors are an
element of print culture and don't translate well to list communication.
The other argument is the signal to noise argument. The problem is that
signal/noise is like yin/yang. Can't have one without the other otherwise
you are back in print culture writing letters to the editor which never
get in.
In the beginning the idea of Pacs-L was goofy and that was what made it so
powerful. Eventually Pacs-L took itself seriously. Big mistake. Editor
appeared, don't post messages popped up and the moderator even started
signing his/her name. Major power grab.
Right now there is a moderator and I haven't clue who that person is which
is good, seems to be a well mannered 'un'moderator. Good job whomever you
are! 8-)
I know there are lots of other signals which have obviously thinned the
ranks but I think the old goofy Pacs-L is pretty important because is
stands for 'public access computer systems in libraries' which is even
more important today. It is a BIG idea about universal access, something
libraries have always stood for. web4lib is the tech discussion but
actually has better big idea discussion mixed, I think because Roy is a
good 'un'moderator.
I think there is room for both and the signal/noise thing has never
bothered me. Apple gave me a great d key and I use it with passion.
Thoughts?
--thom
