Design patterns for flame-free mail list

[Stefano Mazzocchi <st...@apache.org>]

Guys,

I'd like to share something with you.

There is no such thing as a perfect world... this is reflected by the
fact that there are no flame-free mail lists.

But the during the years, we tried hard to make the apache mail lists as
smooth as possible. Why? flames reduce signal/noise ratio, increase
frustration, decrease self-confidence and reduce friendship and loyalty.

Bullshit? well, can you stand newsgroups anymore? anyone?

Anyway, here is my simple design pattern that I wish all of us used:
I'll call it the "you-idiot design pattern" (some of you already know
it: please apologize the duplication).

When you see a mail that irritates you or gets irrationally personal do
the following:

1) write the nasties possible reply to that guy forcing yourself to
finish at least one screen dense of insults, bad words, nasty
meanings... all that stuff.

2) instead of hitting the send button, hit the delete one and throw it
away.

3) start over with the same intent.

You'll find out that irrational negative energy was "dissipated" during
that first loop... and you start seing things differently. 99% of the
time, you don't even end up writing that mail... you simply ignore that.

There is no chance to remove the "irritating social noise" that comes
out of a mail list, or a group of people. Filtering this with kind of a
"negative feedback filter" like the one explained above reduces the
noise and increases the signal.

Think about it and try once. You'll help the community by reducing
unnecessary noise.

Of course, when starting a thread... try to be as respectful as you can
:) It always helps.

-- 
Stefano Mazzocchi      One must still have chaos in oneself to be
                          able to give birth to a dancing star.
<st...@apache.org>                             Friedrich Nietzsche
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Re: Design patterns for flame-free mail list

[Pierpaolo Fumagalli <pi...@apache.org>]

Thomas Yip wrote:
> 
> > We are using Jive, Jon Stevens Java version of FAQ-O-MATIC...
> > Take a look here: <http://xml.apache.org/jyve-faq/Turbine>
> >
> > Pier
> 
> O, thank Pier. I looked at the FAQ, but people seem to be
> so shame, all topic got only 1 question and 1 answer.
> 
> Should we encourage people use it more acitively?

It's there, so, it should be used... Anyway I understand that's not easy
to find... The website needs to be updated...

	Pier

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Re: Design patterns for flame-free mail list

[Thomas Yip <ty...@yahoo.com>]

> We are using Jive, Jon Stevens Java version of FAQ-O-MATIC...
> Take a look here: <http://xml.apache.org/jyve-faq/Turbine>
> 
> Pier

O, thank Pier. I looked at the FAQ, but people seem to be
so shame, all topic got only 1 question and 1 answer.

Should we encourage people use it more acitively?


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Re: Design patterns for flame-free mail list

[Pierpaolo Fumagalli <pi...@apache.org>]

Duncan Werner wrote:
> 
> This sounds a bit like a faq-o-matic, (see openldap.org, for example), which
> is integrated with ht-dig for searches. That's probably a pretty out-of-the-box
> solution. If anyone wants this, put it on the todo list and I'l sign up once I
> can find some time.

We are using Jive, Jon Stevens Java version of FAQ-O-MATIC...
Take a look here: <http://xml.apache.org/jyve-faq/Turbine>

	Pier

(The Jive homepage is here <http://java.apache.org/jyve/index.html>)
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Re: Design patterns for flame-free mail list

[Duncan Werner <du...@pagea.com>]

This sounds a bit like a faq-o-matic, (see openldap.org, for example), which
is integrated with ht-dig for searches. That's probably a pretty out-of-the-box
solution. If anyone wants this, put it on the todo list and I'l sign up once I
can find some time.

Duncan Werner

On Thu, 24 Feb 2000, you wrote:

> 
> I have something else to share about the mail list.
> 
> While the list often a place for people to ask about the problem 
> they encounter and get answers, why don't we make a searchable 
> QA page. And, we can encourage people who start the thread and 
> got answer to summarize one's question and answers and post it to 
> the QA page.
> 
> In that way, the QA page will be much much more searchable, than 
> the mail archive alone. And, the noise to signal ratio will be very 
> low in the QA page. Also, in this way, work can be distributed.
> 
> Certainly, we're not going to blame people who don't comply, but
> I believe there will be enough people willing to do it spontaneously
> to make the QA page useful.
> 
> Do you guys think what I suggest is possible or easy to
> implement? :-)
> 
> 
> Thomas 
> 
> 
> 
> __________________________________________________
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Re: Design patterns for flame-free mail list

[Thomas Yip <ty...@yahoo.com>]

> When you see a mail that irritates you or gets irrationally personal do
> the following:
> 
> 1) write the nasties possible reply to that guy forcing yourself to
> finish at least one screen dense of insults, bad words, nasty
> meanings... all that stuff.
> 
> 2) instead of hitting the send button, hit the delete one and throw it
> away.
> 
> 3) start over with the same intent.
> 
> You'll find out that irrational negative energy was "dissipated" during
> that first loop... and you start seing things differently. 99% of the
> time, you don't even end up writing that mail... you simply ignore that.
> .....
> Of course, when starting a thread... try to be as respectful as you can
> :) It always helps.

Sound good for me. :)

I have something else to share about the mail list.

While the list often a place for people to ask about the problem 
they encounter and get answers, why don't we make a searchable 
QA page. And, we can encourage people who start the thread and 
got answer to summarize one's question and answers and post it to 
the QA page.

In that way, the QA page will be much much more searchable, than 
the mail archive alone. And, the noise to signal ratio will be very 
low in the QA page. Also, in this way, work can be distributed.

Certainly, we're not going to blame people who don't comply, but
I believe there will be enough people willing to do it spontaneously
to make the QA page useful.

Do you guys think what I suggest is possible or easy to
implement? :-)


Thomas 



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