Lay/Expert Conflict - A Solution

[Jane E. Hawkins]

Aaron Delwiche ( 17 May 1995 20:12:33 GMT )...

>Over the past several days, this group has been flooded by postings 
from
>lay persons (like myself) who are interested in the Ebola virus.  

<snip>

>We need a solution that will allow regular readers to filter out 
>comments from lay persons.  One option would be to have ask all lay 
>persons to preface their postings with LAY (e.g. LAY - Does my cat have 
the 
>Ebola virus?).  

>A second (and I think better) option would be for expert regular 
readers
>to preface their posting with an appropriate acronym or label (e.g.
>EXPERT - Call for Papers -- 95 Ebola Conference). 

>What do people think of this suggestion? 

I think it's a good idea, but it won't work.  90% of the problem is with 
people who either don't know netetiquette or refuse to follow it.  Your 
suggestion involves setting up a new netetiquette rule, which they won't 
know or will refuse to follow.

I think that unless you go all the way to a moderated group, you'll just 
have to weather the storm.  Most of them will go away soon.  

*Especially* if folks can refrain from flaming them.  Which is tough 
when they are flaming you, or saying things that set your teeth on edge, 
but ignoring them really is the best way.

In closing, I'd like to say that I think people have been remarkably 
patient and polite about this invasion of a working newsgroup. I deeply 
appreciate the amount of solid information to be found here. 

Jane

One of the lay invaders 

__________________________________________________________________
           Jane E. Hawkins, jhawk at oz.net
         "Time is the fire in which we burn."
                               Delmore Schwartz
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