Hi Ron,
-> It's unfortunate that such a thought ever entered
-> your head!  ;-)
Well, yes. I go back and forth. But I can't see any point to this
discussion area if no one is using it. And besides, it is a requirement
that an echo must carry a certain minimum number of posts, or it can be
dropped from the backbone for low volume.
Do you remember the name of the teacher from New Mexico? He was like a
jack-of-all trades, according to the list he spouted about the various
jobs he'd held before/in addition to teaching. I think he was in charge
of the computer lab at his site. He was (???) a middle school teacher.
I'm certain that his point in asking the question was what I stated
before: at least there'd be something to talk about.
-> I don't know why things are so slow here, but I
-> get enough crap thrown my way as it is, I surely
-> don't need more!  ;-)
->
-> Plus.. I have Herman and ALizard to deal with on
-> the Internet, and that's enough aggravation for
-> ANYONE in a given day!
I don't know ALizard, but I do know Herman. He likes to (or liked to)
cross-post to many newsgroups. I'd often read his stuff in
k12.chat.teacher or k12.ed.math.  He is, as I notice you recently
writing (I'm reading your replies that get cross-posted to
k12.chat.teacher), singing the same old song. I learned his song a
couple of years ago, and no longer discuss much with him. I just
stopped. Eventually, I hope you will too, if for no other reason than to
save your sanity and spend your time on more productive conversations.
Check out Herman's posts from WAAAAY back at DejaNews on
www.dejanews.com. You will see that he has always been saying/writing
the same things. I don't think you will ever change that. But, after you
finally tire of corresponding with him, someone else will join the
newsgroups where Herman posts, someone as of that time still
unacquainted with Herman, and the discussions will go on, with this
newbie now taking your place. 
-> I suspect our problem is that a lot of the active
-> posters of the past aren't really online anymore,
-> and/or have joined the Internet.  Haven't seen
-> anything from Leona, Charles in AGES.  Dan has
-> shown up on the Internet, as have you.  We are
-> simply facing what FIDONET as a whole is: the
-> Internet is more active and draws away a lot of
-> participants.
Yes. I'm sure that is a LARGE part of the problem, if not most of it.
But, as moderator I have to make a choice:
(1) will I step down as moderator to allow someone else to foster
discussion in this area?
(2) will I remain moderator, and allow this area to continue to be
silent, eventually dropped from the backbone due to low traffic volume?
(3) will I remain moderator, and try to foster discussion here?
Right now, I'm trying out option (3). And while my "show of hands"
request has produced a number of posts, we can't all sit here writing
"Me! I'm here" and pretend that that is conversation.
In the past, I've tried posting informative articles, such as the Daily
Report Card excerpts, but those usually drew little response (aside from
Matt Smith, who apparently no longer participates here).
So, It occurs to me to modify the guidelines and hope something will
happen.
-> SK>I am considering to revise the Guidelines for this echo to take
-> out some SK>of the phrases that specifically limit criticizing
-> teachers, etc... to SK>make room for more discussion in this area.
->
-> SK>Reactions?
->
-> Please don't...
It's interesting to me that you write this. You don't think that the
rest of the guidelines provide enough rules for me to maintain an
atmosphere of civilized discussion pertaining primarily to education?
If old time posters have moved on to other pastures (such as the
Internet) maybe it's time to let new participants have a turn here?
-> SK>I am dappling with the idea of eventually gating this FidoNet
-> conference SK>to an Internet mailing list. Maybe within the next
-> couple of weeks I SK>will be able to start experimenting with that.
->
-> I think that might produce more activity, but you
-> can't enforce the existing rules in the Internet
-> newsgroups, can you?
Ah, here is where you are wrong. Moderated newsgroups and mailing lists
on the Internet are actually BETTER controlled than FidoNet conferences.
The way they work is this:
If someone posts to the moderated newsgroup or moderated mailing list,
the message is directly forwarded via e-mail to the moderator. The
moderator then reads the submission and either approves it (posts it to
the newsgroup or mailing list) or rejects it (does not post it to the ng
or ml). Only approved posts are posted and can be read by participants.
Rejected posts are never seen.
I am currently moderating k12.ed.math. It first became moderated on Aug.
1, 1997. Check it out. You will see NO SPAM and very few annoying posts.
Almost EVERYTHING is constructive and on-topic. (BTW, K12Net is looking
for a volunteer to moderate k12.ed.science. You wouldn't be interested,
by any chance, Ron?)
If I initiated such a mailing list to cross-post between FidoNet
EDUCATOR and the Internet, I would actually have BETTER control over
what appeared here from the Internet than the control that I have over
what appears here from FidoNet. (In FidoNet all moderating is done
retroactively.)
Gotta Go! Good to hear from you!
Sheila
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