The problems I see now with SCIT are three-fold:
1) A high ratio of non-Telugu vs Telugu posts: Skipping 10 posts to
find one Telugu related post soon causes one to skip logging on to the group.
2) The chances are that even that one Telugu related post may not be of
significant interest (we all have different tastes, dont' we?)
3) If and when we find a Telugu related post on a subject of interest,
the chances are quite high that the tone of the post may want us to leave
it in a hurry.
All three problems are probably inter-related. The increasingly
hostile tone of the posts may be responsible for the flight of the frequent
posters to the safe confines of the listservs. That flight, in turn,
leaves only the cross-posts and the flames.
IMHO, given the nature of the net, an unmoderated SCIT will not
be rid of crossposts and flames. However, whenever there was a high volume
of good posts even on a controversial issue, the level of flames
generally goes down. I remember a particularly hostile thread on NTR's
policy of 2 rs Kg Rice scheme suddenly climbing to a higher level once
the likes of Ari seetaramayya and banDi Sreekant entered the thread.
My solution at this time is as follows:
1) Increase the number of Telugu related posts on SCIT. It can be
achieved through several means:
a) Pump-in the TELUSA posts into SCIT. Even the
Ghantasala listserv's posts could be pumped-in too.
b) Seed Telugu related topics regularly on the net.
Sometimes, these seeds can generate enough follow-ups to swamp the rest
of the non-Telugu posts. Remember the many threads spawned by
Aravinda's request for a receipe for a sweet?
c) Make it a point to respond to any interesting Telugu
related thread, just so that there is enough Telugu related posts. If
every one of us posts once a week, it is 60 more Telugu related posts a
week on SCIT than we currently have.
2) Respond to the hostile posts in one of the following ways:
a) respond politely - if necessary with exaggerated
politeness - on SCIT if the discussion is worthwhile continuing.
b) send a private note to the hostile poster mildly rebuking
him/her about the importance of good manners. I suggest that this approach
be used with utmost care. Don't use it unless you have some connection with
that poster or that you are convinced that the poster would listen to reason.
c) ignore the hostile posts completely.
If enough of us are interested and committed, we can get SCIT
back to the way it was, even if it is unmoderated.
What do you say?
Regards. --- V. Chowdary Jampala