Scott Rhodes has had his Fido feed cut off, as has Mike 
        Taylor for some months now. Scott has asked me, and Mike 
        seconded this, to act as temporary moderator until such 
        time as Scott or Mike or preferably both, can come back 
        and assume the duties of a real moderator. I have 
        accepted this on the condition that it be temporary. 
 
        Whether or not this is part of the death of Fido, killed 
        by the Internet in much the same way as video killed the 
        radio star, or something like that, I don't know. But I 
        do know that there is a very real threat that this echo 
        is about to be dropped from the backbone and allowed to 
        die. 
 
        Obviously when neither of our two moderators can find a 
        feed, when entire countries hitherto contributing greatly 
        to the echo, such as the UK and Australia, are cut off 
        entirely, we clearly have a problem. 
 
        I prefer to think it's something cyclical and that we 
        will once again be a thriving echo, since there is indeed 
        a great deal to talk about concerning progrock. 
 
        I have two immediate concerns, two basic problems which I 
        think we need to collectively sort out if the echo is to 
        survive over either the long run or short (yes, it is 
        that desperate): 
 
        1. Not enough on topic messages 
        2. Too many off topic messages 
 
        Personally, I feel that if we can take care of the first 
        problem, that will take care of the second without our 
        having to do anything. In the past people who found 
        themselves in the wrong place tended to get bored stiff 
        with our cheerful and esoteric talk and tended to bugger 
        off on their own accord. 
 
        Accordingly, I'm going to ask a number of things of the 
        echo participants, if I may be so bold, perhaps pull in a 
        few favours here and there, and ask that we all pitch in 
        together to keep alive what has been over the years a 
        very pleasant and informative echo: 
 
        1. Please post more messages about prog. I'll be trying 
        to seed a few conversations as well so please feel free 
        to join in. Especially you old timers, vets, progfarts, 
        etc. 
 
        2. Please try not to post so many off topic messages. 
        Remember also that unless you are me (or Scott or Mike) 
        telling someone that something is off-topic is itself an 
        off-topic message; if someone posts about something 
        non-prog let me try to handle it, since that's what I'm 
        getting paid for. Just kidding, I'm not getting paid. So, 
        anyway: 
 
        3. Please try not to respond to off-topic messages, 
        either to prolong or cut short a thread. Just try if you 
        can to leave it alone, or if you must respond, limit the
        discussion to one extra non-topic message (so cram in 
        everything you have to say on the subject into your one
        freebie off-topic message, ya got the word, mate?). I 
        would also suggest that in such cases you try to steer 
        the conversation back towards prog, or at the very least 
        include an ObProg (Obligatory Prog) section to your 
        message so that it is at least partially on topic. But, 
        as I say, it's best if you can leave off-topic messages
        alone all together. 
 
        4. In the tradition of previous temporary moderators, 
        such as Clark Ray (who also is missing his feed, which is 
        starting to look like some sort of virus), I'm going to 
        open up the allowable subject range just a little bit. So 
        some things will become on-topic again, such as 
        progressive metal. If you want to talk about Queensryche 
        or Dream Theater or King Crimson or any of those other 
        pop oriented slightly prog bands you go right ahead. 
        Also, on an experimental tack, I'm going to open up 
        discussion of any psych bands you want from any era. I'm 
        open to other suggestions. If in doubt, ask me first, but 
        I'm going to be pretty open minded, so the worst thing 
        that can happen is I could tell you you are a total moron 
        and tell you to urinate up a rope. Just kidding. ;-) I 
        wouldn't do that. 
 
        So, finally I would like to say that I hope and expect to 
        do little or no moderating here. Basic rules, like 
        anywhere else, apply here: don't annoy or be annoyed, try 
        to stay on topic, and above all have a good time. 
 
        Oh, and I've decided the official language of the echo 
        should become Swedish and I want you all to have clean 
        underwear so you'll have to wear it on the outside so we 
        can check. Just kidding. ;-) 
 
                                Cheers, 
                                Kenneth 
 
 
 
 
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 * OFFLINE 1.58 * Floggings will continue until morale improves 
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