Re: Subject headers are the solution [was: Fire Hydrant for the Flames]

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On Wednesday 13 March 2002 09:40 am, Dirk Elzinga wrote:
> Hey.
>
> There seems to be a feeling that "on-topic" messages are getting
> drowned out by "off-topic" messages. Once upon a time we had a set of
> somewhat standardized subject line tags which were to clearly
> indicate the kind of message which followed -- things like CHAT,
> THEORY, USAGE, etc. No one seems to be using these anymore. Also, as
> threads drift from the descriptions provided in the subject line, the
> subject headings don't always change to reflect the drift. I think
> that if we were to be more diligent in using appropriate subject
> headers, a lot of the burden in sifting the list content would be
> eased, allowing those who want to get right to the grammatical nuts
> and bolts of other's projects to do so, and those who want to discuss
> the private habits of left-handed bearded gay Luxembourgians to do so
> as well. I certainly don't want to squash discussion of ostensibly
> "off-topic" threads, but I'm also not interested in reading them; my
> time is limited, and I think I've already missed some good stuff
> because it wasn't labelled appropriately.
        Well, as Jim Grossman suggested, my suggestion is a bit regimented. (Was
that Freudian term "anal retentive," Jim? :) But, on the other hand, I don't
think that using headers (he proposed HELP and PLEASE CRITIQUE to make the
messages more visible) will work, because that is the status quo. People are
writing subjects like "Please comment" and no one is doing so. There's no
commitment to in-depth peer review, probably for the simple reason that if we
looked at every conlang that crossed our monitor in a given week, this would
become a full-time job!
        Ok, yes, my proposal is just a little regimented. But regimentation is the
only way I can see any sort of peer review forging ahead. The kind of peer
review people are asking for requires dedication. It means that the submitter
needs to demonstrate some commitment to presenting his or her language in a
form that makes it easier to critique, and it means that the reviewers are
commited to seriously studying it. Without some regimentation, we could have
blizzards of submissions (all the people who have repeatedly asked for
comments) followed by long dry spells. In other words, just like now.
        I'm not proposing a dictatorial scheme here, just a line. However, I realize
that this involves more work than we are accustomed to on the list (signing
up for the list, etc.) I don't think, given past experience, that subject
headers will succeed. But then again, I could be wrong. If people want to try
subject headers first, that's fine by me. Perhaps we should make it a poll? :)

> Along with my new resolution to read and comment more carefully on
> grammatical descriptions, I also now resolve to make better use of
> the subject line so that you all will know right away when you want
> to delete my posts.
        Well, if more people agreed to that, we'd go a long way toward solving the
problem.
        :Peter
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