RE: [APML] Mission Statement Change?

["Jeff Ball" <jeffball@netacs.net>]

Hello APML,
Silent minority member here.  The paragraph below by Phil sums up my
feelings as well.  Phil, thank you for your post.  My opinion is that
the group is on the verge of loosing focus.  The volume of posts is
already approaching the limit of what I consider manageable within my
limited internet time allocation.  Like others, I am signed up for web
based browsing of SBIG.  I cannot believe the volume and noise on that
list.  I consider it totally unmanageable when receiving individual
emails.  We have decided to avoid the Yahoo route.  I am happy about
that.  If the volume of APML continues as it is, I will have to
unsubscribe.  At that point I may support a web-based APML group.  

I do enjoy seeing the "best" of CCD images posted here.  But I do
believe we should me mindful of the original intent of a "film focused"
discussion group.  If not, I believe another group will be formed to
fill the void.
Jeff Ball
www.astro-photography.com
Ohio Valley Astronomical Society
www.ovas.org 


> The existing mission encapsulates the focus of APML.  Why is focus so 
> important?  Focus is the oxygen of mail lists such as APML - 
> without focus, 
> such mail lists disintegrate into nothing more than "chat 
> rooms".  Focus is 
> the _only_ thing that differentiates mail lists from "chat 
> rooms".  All 
> successful mail lists have a very specific focus.  Any 
> attempt to erode 
> that focus should be treated with great caution, because it 
> has a strong 
> probability of eroding the mail list itself.  Loss of focus 
> _always_ causes 
> an increase in noise, and increase in noise _always_ lowers 
> the quality, 
> and loss of quality _always_ results in the absconding of experienced 
> membership.  We have seen this happen several times - it is 
> the main reason 
> why AstroV mail list was established, as just one example.


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