> >...besides isn't this a discussion group??...
 
> Yes, this is a discussion group ... Consider raw volume - volume in
> downloads, volume in digests, volume in logs, volume in archives!
 
Exactly.
 
Just because this is a discussion group doesn't mean nettiquette and good
sense and consideration do not apply.  The right to do something does not
imply that it is wise or right, only that we can do it.  Liberty demands
that we excercise discretion.  The owners of this list permit us to do
stupid things.  It is up to us not to do them.
 
Every single time someone sends a post with excessive quotes, it pollutes
the results of his own or someone else's future searches of our most
vauable product  -- our archives.  It means that research the next time
the question comes up means wading through repetitious quotes.  We have
talked about editing the BEE-L archives to remove the binaries and the
quotes and the 'me toos', but it is a gargantuan task.  We've let it go on
too long.  It's past time for moderation on BEE-L.
 
If any of you think your readers need or enjoy your excessive quoting and
the posts you send in the middle of the night when you have had too much to
drink and can't figger out how to edit your own work, I offer the proof
that they do not:
 
Best of Bee (only one year old)  now has *500 subscribers* -- almost fully
62% of BEE-L membership and it is growing fast as a percentage of the
BEE-L figure.  It is overtaking BEE-L.  I expect it may well surpass BEE-L
within a year -- if nothing changes.  Ie. unless BEE-L gets moderation.
 
Best of Bee is a moderated and edited version of BEE-L and I think we have
logs and an archive going back one year (BEE-L goes back practically to
creation), but I am so busy cutting out the quotes and garbage from what
comes in on BEE-L that I haven't taken time to get the search features
going.  I haven't even edited the Best of Bee welcome letter which
contains several errors.  Oh well.
 
Anyhow, BEE-L is a great list and many of us have learned nettiquette and
use of the email software right here in front of 800 readers on this
tolerant and good humoured  group.  Most of us are quick learners, and
most are considerate of others.  Fortunately, any that aren't usually get
bored and wander off fairly quickly.
 
We all know that accidents happen, and that new people have to learn
somewhere -- we all know that and are patient.  But let's remember that
our readers are intelligent enough to remember what they read yesterday.
If not, and if they care enough,  they can quickly request a recent log
any time they need to get some history on the current discussion or they
can search the recent posts on the subject.
 
500 Best of Bee readers (former BEE-L members) cannot be wrong when they
say 'We don't need that stuff' and signoff or nomail bee-l in favour of
Best of Bee.
 
Qed
 
FWIW
 
Allen
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