What do we want from this group?

Agreed

I always thought that this was a very worthwhile feature of this NG, we have a broad cross section of jobs, interests, hobbies and fortunes. This "difference" between us makes it interesting for all and generates a stunningly useful reference engine when a knotty problem arises.

The thread that binds us loosely together is a common appreciation of mechanical contrivances with the accent upon older devices. However, we have always felt able to put up an OT subject from sewing machines to gas turbines and be reasonably confident that someone here will have that vital bit of info you need - and be willing to impart it!

Most of us have an active sense of humour & OT postings to that end are always well received in my experience.

Reading the archive headings is rather like drifting from table to table at club night - surely there can't be a lot wrong with that attitude?

Regards,

Kim Siddorn.

*Much snippage*

You've hit the nail on the head I think Kim, I couldn't have put it better. Of course, as Usenet is a public forum, there will be the occasional troll, or other undesirable, pitch up on the shores of our oily, friendly little world. Having said that,over the years I have had to cast very few names into the outer darkness of my killfile. I still think we could perhaps improve our attitude to newcomers, but compared to the virtual civil war that erupts from time to time on other groups we do pretty well :-) Things will go quiet on here from time to time, but as practically minded folk I'm sure we don't spend all our lives sat over the computer keyboard.

Regards

Philip T-E

Agreed. As a long time lurker and v.occasional poster, it's a very pleasant group. Well done. Pete.

"philipte" wrote (snip):-

Sadly that's just where most of my 'working' life is spent. I have to check the company email at regular intervals, so it is just one more click to see what is happening here and another to look at my hotmail in box - all helps to break up a dull day.

In message , Nick H writes

That works for me - even as a (mostly) lurker, whose interest is pretty well confined to visiting rallies and museums, photographing and videoing, and reading and learning about engines (though one day the rad-cooled D *will* be set up and usable in its engine house...).

No problem with that AFAIAC.

Couldn't agree more.

A vast source of excellent information (which has baled me out of the crap on several occasions - thank you) with a bit of entertainment and amusement thrown in - what more could one want?

Mark

I fully agree with you, lets keep this place friendly and not have all this "we don't allow that here" sort of thing. The charter for this group is pretty standard, it only really has limits on advertising and binaries which you have to have or a group can get flooded, it doesn't specifically encourage OT discussions nor does it ban them, here it is:

Greg

Good question, Nick.

I think you summed up what most of us want pretty well, a hassle free place to chat, or to lurk while chat takes place about SEs. I do think that provided the majority of threads are not OT, we are following the spirit of the charter.

I've enjoyed U.R.E.S. for a number of years now, and have enjoyed meeting a lot of the posters, quite a number of whom I count amongst my friends. I came to the group as a totally ignorant newbie, and thanks to the combined efforts of all concerned, I'm now only partially ignorant :-).

I'm very heartened that this thread has brought out a few infrequent posters. My message to lurkers is that the group will only prosper if those of you who enjoy the group also join in. There will always be some loss of people from the group as personalities clash, people move on from the hobby etc., so some new posters are always welcome.

Perhaps another question to be considered is: what do we not want from this group? One simple answer is trolls, obnoxious idiots who thrive on stirring up arguments. I'm sorry to state the obvious, but based on recent experience, it's worth stating. There is only one way to deal with trolls, DO NOT REPLY to their posts. To labour the point, if you think someone is posting just to provoke argument or to slag off the group, just ignore it. If these attention seeking individuals get no attention, they will get bored and move on to pastures new.

Regards, Arthur G

Gentlemen,

And there endeth the lesson for today from Father Arthur, a fine man if ever he was one once :-)) Like Arthur I now have a vast country selection of good friends all because of the NG. Lets keep it the way it is and lets have more lurkers creeping out of the wood work to. As a slight aside Arthur I'm off to Dublin on Tuesday for three days, want anybody looked up or any irish nieties brought back for you :-))

Martin P

Arthur Griffin wrote: One simple answer is trolls, obnoxious idiots who

Hiya Philip,

1776 - We won. You lost. Get over it. 8-)) I'm currently involved in two email-based stationary engine lists, one threaded web-based one, and this one on Usenet. I can honestly say that in terms of flame wars, this group is no better and no worse than the others, with one exception. Here the jabs tend to be with a sharper blade so that the skewered one may not even realize he's been done. That seems to always be the case with the troll-flaying. This group is definitely the wittiest of the four. I don't know if that's due to the "who" of the group, or if it's more a difference between American English & idiom and the British version. I think the other lists may have a bit more international flavor with posters from the US, Canada, Austrailia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, France, England, Wales, Holland, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. The bottom line is that there is no such thing as a free lunch or a perfect stationary engine list. Perfection tends to be boring. IMHO, this one is in fine health and continues to provide both information AND entertainment. Well done. Carry on. 8-))

See ya, Arnie

Arnie Fero Pittsburgh, PA USA fero snipped-for-privacy@city-net.com

Martin,

I've no idea what an "Irish nietie" is, but I've got a very bad feeling you're going to tell me....

Regards, Arthur G

he was one once :-))

the NG. Lets keep it the way it is and

anybody looked up or any irish nieties

Nicety

Arthur Griff> Martin,