[PLUG] Mailing list issues

[Sunil Beta Baskar]

> On 1 January 2013 15:53, म.हा.सा.ग.र <o.s.h.o at guruvision.com> wrote:
>> On Monday 31 Dec 2012 3:03:51 PM ag at gmail wrote:
>>> A locked down list is next to useless, and that is what plug is for me now.
>>> Probably one reason why plug meets never garner more support. No question
>>> is stupid and when someone moves over to Linux, he/she has many many
>>> questions. If plug is not designed to answer newbie questions, there is no
>>> charter that says so.

There are a few items that are to be objectively sorted out:
1. mails to the list often take a very long time to appear
2. traffic on PLUG mailing list has been extremely thin and limited
3. PLUG website gives a different impression about the mailing list

We are a group of volunteers and enthusiasts upholding the principles
of "Free" as in Freedom. We can objectively resolve the above issues.

What is NOT an issue and need not be addressed:
1. anonymity of the moderator or moderators
2. the reasons for filtering spam
3. usage of mailman as the list management tool

To sort out the real issue
1. more moderators (anonymous or otherwise) can clear messages
according to the rules within the time-frame they need to be cleared.
A mail shouldn't take over 48hrs to appear on the mailing-list [this
is the case with sending patches to vger.kernel.org lists.] With fewer
moderators a multitude of mails take time, and the statistics show
that too few messages are actually on the list. If there is an
alternate solution to reduce moderation time, let us apply it.
2. let's encourage, answer questions faster, everyone wants a reply ASAP
3. modify the PLUG website to mention details accurately about the list

Let's do this constructively. We do not intend to trouble or bash or
irritate anyone, especially those who have upheld this list from the
time of its inception in achieving the above. The list works, but many
mails (legitimate ones for sure, not spam) get rejected and all mails
take much longer.

>From 2004 archives I have observed that the rules and moderation of
the list have always been a point on which some have disagreed. Beyond
that timeline, into 2007, 2008 these have only increased. It is only
logical that there is some change necessary if the actual issue of
thin traffic is to be addressed. Our mission is to help newbies and
users with GNU/Linux, addressing any issues they might have.

Let's do what is necessary, go forward, and have an active list;
Sunil Beta Baskar