> Comments > were made to go search the extensive archives on any topic imaginable. > Maybe I'm too new at these email lists but I feel I'm getting a bit > overwhelmed when I have to go search some archives. Well, that's the price you pay for belonging to a big high volume, quality-controlled list and wishing to learn from it. You do have to do your homework. Every gathering of people, other than a mob (and maybe even a mob), has its rules of order and procedure. When up to 1,000 people from all over the world are all in an active meeting that has been in session for over 10 years, why do so many newcomers expect to rush in, run up to the podium, grab the mic and ask or talk about whatever is on their mind without finding out what is happening, and what has been happening? Quite a number of people misunderstand what BEE-L is and what its mission is. They assume it is there to meet their personal need to chat and talk on -- often without listening or thinking, or without bringing in anything new. BEE-L actually exists to maintain high quality discussion and to concurrently build a knowledge base that is of useable size and quality. The real time answer-back aspect is important, but must be secondary to the prime objectives. The majority of subscribers never post, but read what is posted and they are the real audience here. To them silence is a good thing and a huge volume of chatter is a nuisance. They must be respected and protected from those who wish simply to chat. BEE-L does not wish to become like CB radio for beekeepers where quality and content is driven by those whose time is worth least and the standard of debate is determined by the lowest common denominator. There are other bee lists and a large group on USENET where there are no constraints and people can and do post any old thing they like. If you go there, you'll see that they do. If you can stand it, you'll have found a home. If you can't, then maybe you get my point. *All* input on this list is very much appreciated and carefully considered, however, it is not reasonable to expect 800 list members to wade through tons of personal exchanges and pointless repetition because one or two people are unwilling to do a little work or are bored or lonesome and want to chat. For whatever reasons, it seems some people have plenty of time to write long and uninformed questions and expect others to take the time to explain things at their level, while, at the same instant, they claim not to have the time to do a simple search. Thus, the answers they get are often of similar quality from people who are similarly uninformed and feel that a guess is good enough. Guesses, unless based on actual experience or study, are not good enough for this list. If you do not like sci.agriculture.beekeeping, then being disciplined and doing your homework is the price you pay for participating in a list of BEE-L's quality. A number of people are working in the background to keep the quality up. This list is not run without some appreciable personal cost to a number of selfless and nameless people who ask for no credit. Participating in BEE-L is not a right, it is a privilege -- one that is freely given. No one is forced to post to BEE-L. BEE-L is a privately owned list which is open to anyone. Those who choose to subscribe must understand that their writing must meet certain standards of interest, content and format or be rejected, often without comment. Those who subscribe depend on the moderators to screen out self-serving junk and they do. I also expect that the standard will be raised as time passes and now that alternate discussion areas are available. > Maybe I'm on the wrong kind of list? ...I miss the personal stuff a bit that for > example tells why a person is a beekeeper and why in their area he or she > does whatever he or she feels is right to do. Beats me. I previously recommended sci.agriculture.beekeeping to you, and to me sci.agriculture.beekeeping appears to already be exactly what you seem to be wanting BEE-L to become. Have you been to sci.agriculture.beekeeping ? 'Feelings' are big there. I also know that -- in addition to this list -- you are also on another list that appears to be exactly the type of list you seem to want, so I don't quite understand what you are expecting. allen ----- See if your questions have been answered in over a decade of discussions. BEE-L archives & more: http://listserv.albany.edu/archives/bee-l.html Search sci.agriculture.beekeeping at http://www.deja.com/ or visit http://www.internode.net/HoneyBee to access both on the same page.