I don't spend a lot of time here anymore largely because I got tired
of wading through the huge volumes of whining and negativity but as I
was scanning the digests the other day I was struck by the parellels
between this and another list I was once on. I thought I'd share
what happened there as fodder for a (hopefully) positve discussion
here.

A few years ago I purchased a vintage Mercedes Benz and seeking
technical advice I joined the Mercedes Benz Club of America. At the
time they had a largely unmoderated email group much like this one.
It was wonderful. There were people from all walks of life
discussing all manner of subjects in addition to discussing the
cars. Then the list was more or less hijacked by a small number of
malcontents who apparently had little else to do all day but bury
everyones inboxes in torrents of trash few wanted to read. Many got
disgusted and left before the Club powers that be finally pulled the
plug. Eventually the Club re-established an internet presence with a
series of tightly focused, highly moderated forums. The intellectual
freedom and variety is gone and the last time I looked hardly anyone
used them. A few months later however, a couple of the most
respected members of the old list formed a private discussion group.
Anyone can join but they must first read and agree to a few very
simple rules. Among them: No one may use profanity at any time, no
one may criticize what anyone else chooses to post about - variety of
topics is encouraged, no one may disrespect any other list member.
The rules are simple but they are absolutely enforced. Any
infraction judged by the list owner to be deliberate brings immediate
banishment for life. No appeals, no discussion - just blasted into
the cyber netherworld by the mighty Pooferator. This list is
populated by diverse, intelligent people who have a wonderful time
discussing everything you can imagine as well as their cars. Newbies
who ask questions that have been asked a thousand times before are
politely directed to the list archives. It is the very best of what
an internet email group can be. Would something similar work for
this group? I don't know. Most of the few here who have the respect
and standing to wield the pooferator probably don't have the time or
the inclination. I don't have any magic bullets - just sharing what
I have observed elsewhere. Just get out there and box!
Bigguy