Seems to me there are three main advantages to the moderated lists:
1. Ensures inappropriate messages or flames are not forwarded to the whole list
2. Provides the moderator with an opportunity to add comment and/or flag
certain things prior to sending on
3. Provides the opportunity to redirect a message to a particular topic-list
when more than one topic list is operating.
I don't think we need to be particularly concerned about #1; #2 can be done
more generally by any of us (as we already do); #3 may be important (but
I've lost track of the "several listserves in two different places")
especially if we begin to generate WAOE committee/topic-specific lists.
Primary disadvantage is the amount of time required of the moderator using
the moderated list approach. I think having a discussion
moderator/facilitator is very useful (depending on purpose of listserve) but
I also think a moderator/facilitator can fulfill their role using the
unmoderated-software approach.
Just my 2cents.
PS: Just read note from John and agree. Also thought the lightbulb joke was
great!
Fiona.
At 06:51 AM 98/05/19 -1000, B. D-L wrote:
>We are now working on several listserves in two different places (but then,
>what is "place" in cyberspace?) And we are trying out the "moderator"
>function, to see what the value of a "moderated" list is vs. a list that is
>simply open for posting only by subscribers. The former option (at least
>with the software we are running) goes like this: when someone "posts" to
>the list, the message is first sent to the listowner, then the listowner
>sends it to the list itself with an approval password. Each message must be
>individually approved by a human being, and resent to the list.
>
>The second option (unmoderated) would allow anyone who is subscribed to the
>list, to be able to post any messages they would like.
>
>Pros and cons of either option? (including the work of approval of each post?)
>
>Brian
>
>
>
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Principal
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