[Rhodes22-list] Political discussion is diluting the value of the Rhodes 22 newsgroup

[elle]

Well said, Herb!

elle

We can't change the angle of the wind....but we can adjust our sails.

1992 Rhodes 22   Recyc '06  "WaterMusic"   (Lady in Red)


--- On Wed, 9/3/08, Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com> wrote:

> From: Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com>
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Political discussion is diluting the value of the Rhodes 22 newsgroup
> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 5:01 PM
> Paul,
> 
> I think you missed the point. The point is that commentary
> is necessary, 
> or the list dies.
> 
> No one is going to refuse to talk sailing. However, once
> the carb issue 
> on the yamaha dies away, something needs to fill the void
> until the next 
> "help me" message pops up, or the list dies.
> 
> Anyone that wants to (and folks sometimes do) can fill the
> void with 
> sailing stories, photos, project information, etc.. If
> there were enough 
> of those, folks that enjoy the political banter will
> probably get tired 
> of wading through the sailing distractions, and start
> talking boats.
> 
> Until that happens though, the more prolific on here will
> talk about 
> what's comfortable for them. It's up to the "I
> want something else" 
> group to provide it. Trust me, no one's going to run
> someone off for 
> talking about boats (I'm talking about REAL boats of
> course, stinkpots 
> don't count).
> 
> Keep in mind too, it's a presidential election cycle...
> 
> 
> Paul Krawitz wrote:
> > Ed K,
> >
> > First of all, thanks for the invitation to South
> Carolina. Actually, there
> > is terrific sailing here on the north shore of Long
> Island, where friends
> > and I go out three times per week on sailboats ranging
> in size from 16 to 44
> > feet. The marina constantly tries to steer me into a
> larger boat, since
> > every winter I'm the runt on the lot. But I like
> my Rhodes best.
> >
> > I appreciate your strong feelings that in order to
> keep the list ongoing,
> > that alternative discussions need to take place, or
> else the group will
> > atrophy.
> >
> > But I'm not a "newbie." I've been a
> Rhodes owner on and off for the past 12
> > years. I may not contribute that frequently, and you
> may not consider me
> > "salty" enough, but recently I made a long
> post in response to the plethora
> > of problems people were having with their Yamaha
> outboards. So I want to
> > contribute.
> >
> > Yes, there are pen pal friendships (and even in-person
> friendships) made
> > because of the newsgroup discussions.
> >
> > Terrific.
> >
> > It would be even better, in my opinion, to make the
> discussions sailing and
> > boating related. And this could be loosely
> defined...interesting sailing
> > venues, how does sailing help you to emotionally cope
> with stress, photos of
> > get-togethers with other Rhodies, applauding
> Stan's magnificent writing and
> > outstanding web site (which is what drives his sales
> after all these years),
> > best practices to maintain your boat, how to get the
> Rhodes to point upwind
> > better, sailing poetry, and more. In other words, not
> all the Rhodes
> > discussions have to be posted looking for help to
> solve an emergency
> > problem.
> >
> > To suggest that political commentary is necessary for
> the success of the
> > group, and furthermore to acerbically attack the
> "newbie" for questioning
> > the wisdom of placing political commentary on a
> sailing newsgroup, is both
> > short-sighted and mean spirited. And it's
> unfortunate to see dispirited
> > people leaving the list.
> >
> > There are several people who emailed me privately,
> agreeing that the group's
> > politics have gotten out of hand and hurt rather than
> help the subscriber
> > base. Unfortunately, they were afraid to post their
> comments and face the
> > very public ridicule that I am braving.
> >
> > Ed, since you seem to be one of the group's most
> vocal proponents, perhaps
> > you could initiate a weekly discussion on pertinent
> sailing topics and ask
> > everyone to respond. That would make the group both
> more vibrant and on
> > target.
> >
> > Paul K
> > "Clarity"
> > __________________________________________________
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> > __________________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> >   
> 
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