[RTC List] Limitations of e-mail lists

[Dwight Winegar]

Once again with the following comments below we are reminded of the  
limitations of e-mail lists for communications vs. the superiority  
that Bulletin Boards (BBS) once provided.  In the days before  
Internet browsers connecting us with the world for information we  
were much more readily available to true local and regional  
information and discussion.  Today's Wikis and Blogs  do not readily  
or easily do the same job as a GUI (desktop folder based) BBS.

On a second point the limitations of discussion on a list-service are  
also not necessarily in the best interests of community reflection.   
Humboldt County has some truly diverse opinions, often of the  
extremes, and while some people may also attempt to be more vocal on  
extremist fringes in some of our communities, we have in the past  
invited "roundtable" discussion for the formulations of policy.  Such  
was the format of the Economic Development Forum, which later became  
the Prosperity forum, crafting the Prosperity Document, from whence  
ultimately came the seeds for RTC and other "clusters" of the North  
Coast economy.

As someone who has moderated other online groups, and currently a  
couple of mail lists as well, I find there are some people who  
believe in absolutely "no censorship" (in their terminology).  This I  
would have to disagree with.  There are limits, both in "netiquette"  
as well as staying on-topic relative to the objectives of the list.   
As such, some moderators have also created separate lists known as  
"off-topic."   To relegate discussion with such black and white  
choices is surely limiting of true participation and well-rounded  
diversity of reflection.

Therefore I'm of the opinion that our local communities and North  
Coast Redwood Region are in need of "technology" that provides more  
potentials for communication, news, reflection on important civic  
topics, including but not limited to the defined realms of our  
Economic Development Clusters (of which Technology and RTC) is one  
part.   So, with regards to Rob's comment below that we should "stay  
focused" I would quite agree, if we were experiencing extreme digress  
from the topic or organization's goals.  At the same time, we may be  
truly limiting communication, participation, diversity of views, and  
the knowledge in this "information age" of Technology, not to mention  
the potential for flooding e-mailboxes by the limitations of one  
listserve as our communications venue.

- Dwight Winegar

On  17 Jan 2008, at 03:40, Arkley, Rob wrote:

> Dear All,
>      I think that Aaron may be well intentioned, but his input goes  
> way beyond what I feel that Redwood Technology should go I its  
> input.  Mr. Atrim also has a advocacy piece about the Bay and it is  
> future.  Needless to say, he and I agree on little.  However, we  
> should all agree that we need more telecom and IT service.
>      Mr. Antrim's suggestions below are at best growth prohibiting  
> and simply go far beyond the real issues that I believe that our  
> group has in mind.  Let's stay focused on our goal and not become  
> broadly advocacy based with the exception of issues directly  in  
> our charge.  If we don't stay focused, we will lose our emphasis  
> and power which a broad based and coalition has.
>      I don't want to start a huge and vitriolic e mail chain, but  
> rather stay focused on our real goals, which are far more limited  
> and surgical in nature than the below comments suggest.  I am  
> convinced that if we stay focused and surgical, we will have much  
> more likelihood of success.
>
>
>
>                                                      vty,
>
>
>
>                                                      Rob .
>
>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://redwoodtech.org/pipermail/list_redwoodtech.org/attachments/20080117/c612b2ce/attachment.html