Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 06:50:43 -0800

From: "Thomas L. Clark" tlc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]NEVADA.EDU

Subject: Re: Posts from non-professionals



On Sun, 16 Nov 1997, Bethany K. Dumas wrote:



I have just been informed that many recent posts are from students, not

professionals. In future, I will try to refrain from posting evaluative

comments about remarks from posters whom I do not know personally or

professionally.



Bethany



Bethany hits the nail on the head, in a manner of speaking. I have been

meaning for some time to send this memo to colleagues who know me. I have

set my ADS-L to nomail on a regular basis when I am busy. I simply don't

have the time to go through dozens of messages from people who have

dropped in to enjoy funny stuff about dialect speakers. Most of their

comments and questions would be taken care of if they took a course from

any of the professionals on the list.



When I do set to ADS-L mail, I tend to look only at those message from

professionals, members of ADS and people who have published in the field.

But getting 80 to 100 messages in a couple of days, eighty percent of

which needn't have been written if people were knowledgeable even a little

bit, simply is too time consuming when I have many things I need to catch

up on.



Perhaps the answer would be to go to a moderated group for the

professionals, then have an open forum for general discussion on a

separate track. I have seen this done with humor groups: one is moderated

and sends out few, but significant items. The other is open to whoever

feels the urge to contribute.



Just a thought. Now that the semester is winding down, I will set ADS-L

to mail once more, to see if there is any sentiment for such a proposal.



Yes, I expect to receive flames from some, but I have a delete button.



Cheers,



Thomas L. Clark

tlc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nevada.edu