RE: [META]: Yet another idea for discussions

From: Michael Wiik (mwiik@messagenet.com)
Date: Fri May 16 2003 - 10:24:26 MDT

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    Emlyn writes:

    > I have a few comments:
    >
    > 1 - Can you post a [DISCUSS] in response to an [FYI]? If not, a [COMMENT] is
    > required in between, which seems unnecessarily limiting.

    That's true. But ideally, we'd only COMMENT about things we know about.
    Since DISCUSSions are totally open, this would allow us to post anything
    whatsoever.

    {henceforth I'll just Uppercase the initial letter of the options).

    For example, an Fyi comes in about some medical biochemical process
    perhaps too complex for the layman to comprehend. Inviting immediate
    Discussion means anyone can pick up the word 'medical' and launch into a
    provocative defense of govt funded health care. This will be responded
    to easily by any crank with a reply button. The extra effort required
    make a Comment before (someone else) can initiate a Discussion may serve
    as a filter.

    I sorta do this myself: I get extropy daily digest (but don't open it),
    read the BBS forum, and reply in email. I have to compose each message,
    cutting and pasting subject, quotes, person who I'm quoting, to address,
    etc.

    Of course two or more listmembers could collaborate on defeating the system.

    > 2 - It'd never work on the extropians list; this list is a free-for-all
    > (both its greatest strength & weakness). You'd need to set up a new list to
    > enforce the rules on, likely including human or automated moderation to do
    > the job.

    True. I would really recommend that we all get blogs and start blogging.
    Blog your posts to extropians. (I'm waiting for TypePad, personally.)
    Until then anyone could start using this system (or any other system)
    unless the listowners really insist on stuff like [WAR] and [IRAQ]. In
    this way conformance to the system is voluntary, and you might get a
    better s/r ratio by filtering out emails not in compliance with the system.

    It'd be interesting to build a range of systems, code it in XML and XSL,
    and sort of let them evolve.

    > 3 - It's a bit cumbersome, given that you can't just hit "REPLY". It'd be
    > nice if the moderation automation did the following: [...]
    > You should be able to guess the correct format for most posts
    > that are incorrectly formatted, and reformat them appropriately, otherwise
    > bounce them.

    Automation is always good.

    Thanks,
            -Mike
    >
    > Emlyn

    -- 
    ======================================================================
    Michael Wiik
    Principal
    Messagenet Communications Research
    http://messagenet.com
    ======================================================================
    


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