[CS-FSLUG] OT: Can this list be split?

[David Aikema]

On 10/26/05, Fred A. Miller <fmiller at lightlink.com> wrote:
> On Wednesday 26 October 2005 12:04 am, David Aikema wrote:
> > In basically all other lists that I participate in, an OT (off topic)
> > flag is sufficient, as there's little enough off-topic discussion that
> > this does not pose a problem. Perhaps just the existance of multiple
> > off-topic discussion flags is a sign that there's too much off-topic
> > conversation in the list?
>
> When will those who complain so loudly for more Linux discussion provide
> some?! NO ONE is keep anyone here from posting.

Is there some minimum quota of messages per mailing list that I'm
unaware of and which you think must be filled?

I've participated in mailing lists where there can be a period of
months between messages, and other mailing lists where the traffic is
measured in the hundreds per day and lists in obth categories fit
their purpose.

If someone was looking for a place to post a question regarding some
sort of open source software and happened to look through the archives
(I'm not sure if these are currently available online or not):

1. Would that person think that there are people on the list able to
handle such questions?  (ie. would the mailing list archive show that
we're able to handle such questions?)  The greater the percentage of
off-topic messages the more difficult that this would become for
someone to determine.

2. Even if the person figured that people on the list were able to
answer their questions, would they be willing to wade through and and
delete all the off-topic messages that would pop up while their
question was under discussion?

I think that both of the above limit the number of on-topic posting by
decreasing the probability of interested others joining the list.

David