[Reader-list] a thought

[Vivek Narayanan]

Monica et al.,

I wonder if some of the issues and difficulties over the reader list 
might be addressed by introducing (and strictly and universally 
enforcing) just one simple, unambiguous instrumental rule that we could 
all agree on: 

each member of the reader list is allowed no more than one post per day 
/ 24-hour period.

An exception could be made solely for announcements, and that too of an 
urgent or time-bound nature.  If the member violates this rule of 
conduct and makes, say, two or three posts in a single day, then they 
are first issued a warning.  The second or third time they do it, let's 
say, they are off the list.  Simple as that.

I think this could, at the very least, force us all to exercise a 
certain restraint before we hit the send button, choosing and focus our 
energies on making the postings we consider more substantial or 
important, combining thoughts together in a single mail.  Since the 
dominance of certain issues on the list is largely an effect of 
overposting by a small handful of individuals, I think this might also 
help to even out the range of issues that are discussed on this list. 

(To Radhakrishnan-- I don't think we can artificially enforce diversity 
on this list, but we can give it more room to breathe.) 

On a very basic level it encourages respect for other peoples' inboxes.  
People can write their second message, save it and cue it up on their 
mail programs, then send it after a day (after perhaps reading it over a 
second time to see if it's really necessary).

As far as I can think-- I don't think anything will be lost by this rule? 

I realise that this procedural rule can be circumvented through the use 
of multiple aliases and heteronyms, and god knows the list is no 
stranger to that, but even in that case I think it will help restraint, 
and prevent cases where, for instance, we get 10 mindless rants by the 
same person over the course of a day, or a situation where an individual 
replies to every single mail on the list, regardless of whether they 
have anything interesting to add or not.

I also realise that, with this mail, I have violated the rule myself! 
But were we to introduce and agree on this, I would certainly abide by it.

Vivek