I am a NANFA member and the local IL-IN chapter member.
I have been a NANFA member since 1998 or so. I am afraid that
I now feel compelled to express my opinion, publicly, on the
matter of NANFA mailing list content and recent attempts at
control.
Simply put, No Net-Nannies, please. We are all adults and
expect to be treated like adults.
The NANFA mailing list is open to all, is not moderated
and is generally tuned to the topic of North American Native
Fishes. The signature attached to every message has a clear
disclaimer and list subscription information.
If off-topic list content is a major bother to NANFA officers and
members, then the NANFA Board of Directors should discuss this
issue and produce a solution.
Todd, I am afraid that you are over-reacting. You are also
imposing your personal sense of right/wrong on the list.
That will not work - not on the Internet and not in the United
States of America. Please take this issue to the NANFA BOD and
let the Board members sort it out.
The mailing list will accept the NANFA Board's decision.
I suggest adding a "Please restrict discussion to North American
Native Fishes as much as possible" (or similar clause) to the
list signature. Alternatives are to restrict the mailing list
to members only and/or moderate the list.
Also, one should understand that most members of the list will
behave as expected. If there are people who do not use
the NANFA list as expected, then a private message will be
more effective than a public rebuke.
Some of us can take a hint and control ourselves (eg: I have
taken the hint about the news wire forwards and will not send
out any more!). But, there will always be those who will not
take hints or forget or make mistakes (we are all falliable).
In these cases, take the matter off-list or simply hit your delete
key.
In the words of Jon Postel [1]
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send."
Thanks,
Sajjad
[1] Jon Postel was one of the Internet Pioneers
See: http://www.postel.org/postel.html
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-- Sajjad Lateef e-mail: sajjadlateef AT yahoo DOT com Chicago /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org