It's just too easy to be misunderstood on this list, isn't it? I was referring to the many times that someone will post a question to the UA list such as, "Anyone going out to lakeside tonight?" Two or three people might reply, and that is all fine. What begins to bother me is when those two or three or four people who then want to rendezvous don't simply email the list and suggest that those interested hold further conversations off-list. Instead, there may follow a stream of seemingly endless emails that may look like this: -OK, I'll meet you at exit XYZ. -I may be ten minutes late, so look for me. -Allright, if you're ten minutes late let's meet at exit ZXY. -That will work for me. What about Bob? -Bob said he can't meet us tonight unless we meet at exit OPQ. -Should we try somewhere else? -Not unless someone is serving liver and onions. -Will you be bringing the liver or the onions? -I'll bring the cat. You supply the liver and onions. Etc, etc, etc. This kind of exchange isn't an astronomy discussion but a logistical problem to be solved by those interested, something that the rest of the list shouldn't be bothered with. This is often the reason that after just one or two days away from this computer my inbox is inundated with dozens of emails and I don't have the time to read about who is going where on Sunday night. That's all I was trying to say earlier. I wasn't then and I am not now denigrating anyone. This list is a great place to connect with others for numerous reasons, but then specific conversations can often be moved off-list. I don't know if I'm being clear or not. I'm going on several days without sufficient sleep and I apologize if anyone is offended. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2012 3:44 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS business etc. I think it should be up to the poster to decide if the discussion would be better taken off-list, not to an administrator -- in the interest of our free-speech policy. Personally, I've been involved in a valuable off-list back-and-forth that began on list, so it's not a bad idea if done voluntarily. But let's not make Patrick into a free-speech policeman. Let's just all behave like grownups and not denigrate others or their comments, and use common sense about what is and isn't interesting to the list as a whole. I hope we're adult enough to take a libertarian approach to discussions. -- Joe ________________________________ From: Kim <kimharch@cut.net> To: 'Utah Astronomy' <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, June 2, 2012 4:58 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS business etc. Sorry about the late response to this issue. I have a personal request relating to this discussion: There is a lot of extraneous chatter on this list about who is going to what observing site and similar topics, often just between two or three people, but the conversations may take place throughout a whole day or two and may consist of details that are not appropriate for the entire list. I've often been away from this account for two or three days and upon returning I may find 30, 40, 50 or more posts, many of which consist of private conversations such as those to which I refer. Yes, I know how to use the delete button but I still like to briefly review all posts if I have time. If Patrick (and others) agree, wouldn't it be more appropriate to take those conversations immediately off-list? I know that I would certainly appreciate it if those list members would do so and eliminate a lot of unnecessary traffic. Thanks all. Once in awhile it feels good to vent, doesn't it? Kim