[Dixielandjazz] Leaving the list, and coming back, numberous times.

[Lowell Busching]

One of the current threads right now is, why the list is the size it is, 
and why people leave.  Changing interests and priorities is of course 
one of the reasons people leave and come back to the list, but I am on 
the side of those who believe the fluctuations are due mainly to the 
inability of many of the members, at one time or another to obey the 
rules of mailing lists or newsgroups as accepted by most people. 
Nothing in writing of course or an "unmoderated" list. Several of these 
have been mentioned over and over, so why not me?

My reasons for people leaving.

1. Posting private correspondence between members to the list to the 
list itself, without getting permission from the original writer. This 
has caused me to leave a couple times even if I do not post that much 
myself to the list. If I want something I say to be on the list, I will 
post it there myself.  Otherwise I consider it to be private mail even 
if it concerns the DJML or comments made on it. Leaving the list 
prevents that from happening.

I remember making some rather personal remarks to a member in another 
country in what I thought was a strictly private email. The next day it 
not only was posted by him on the list in total, which
Bob Ringwald will tell you is an environmental disaster, but this 
"gentlemen" proceeded to insult me on the list. Who wants to stay on a 
list like that? I get insulted enough by people who know me personally!

2. Totally off subject posts that Bob or Dave might miss due to having 
lives of their own where they can not monitor every post. They can 
search for key words I suspect, and check them before posting, but that 
is not fool proof. Take that any way you like.

This list was ORIGINALLY intended as the name implies for discussion on 
Dixieland or Trad jazz. This was relaxed  almost immediately by the 
originator. Topics quickly covered everything under the sun. The title 
DJML lost all meaning. It is more like a Brand name now. BMW, Lexus, 
etc.  Bob has helped steer it more back on course, thanklessly.

If a member has other musical interests, as Steve among others points 
out correctly, perhaps they should ALSO join those lists to discus those 
subjects?  Some VERY learned mailing lists exist on all forms of music. 
I know of at least one big band list were the one-upmanship in posting 
jazz trivia can intimidate even the most knowledgeable jazz fans or 
musicians. Encyclopedic in nature. Out of this world postings and links 
to famous or totally obscure recordings in private collections.

In fact, one poster to that list was told perhaps he should not be 
posting entire articles from the famous on line encyclopedia, but only 
give the link to that article. The same for newspaper articles, most of 
whom have a web presence, if a member is interested in reading it.

3. Constant repetition of the EXACT same information over and over, day 
after day.  New insights are fine and occasional repeats of key things 
periodically after many months, to allow for the new members. Long time 
members I can see can get tired of "using the delete key" once they 
realize it is a repeat or of no interest to them.

4. Members who instead of trying to be part of the solution, vote with 
their keyboards. They profess to not reading DJML posts any more, but 
are more then willing to make posts themselves complaining about other 
posts, or just drop the list completely rather then trying to make it 
better. Like not voting in a national election and then complaining 
about the results for the next several years. Who's fault is it?

As a "charter" member of this list from the FIRST suggestion posted on 
the newsgroup "Bluenote" many years ago now, I think I have seen and 
read it all. The problem is it is always the same thing! Give Bob and 
Dave a break, literally, and try to use the list for what it was 
initially intended. A like minded discussion group between interested 
musicians and "civilians", a term by Bill Allred I have always liked. 
Flaming or slamming each other is getting the list nowhere.

Of course all the above IS both a flame and a slam. I already stand 
corrected by myself. Thank you for listening.

Peace on earth, good will to men (and the women on the list too.)
And a Happy New Year to the DJML

Mad Dog