On Fri, Apr 13, 2001 at 02:01:24PM -0400, Rob Mahurin wrote:
| On Fri, Apr 13, 2001 at 09:05:43AM +0100, Glyn Millington wrote:
| > Seems to me that there is a problem for real newcomers with the docs -
| > for the very reasons that make them so useful to those who know their way
| > around a little. So much variety, so little time.
| >
| > What might help is a daily post to the list with a subject line
| > "NEW TO LIST? READ THIS!!"
...
| > Worth pursuing?
|
| I think this is a wonderful idea and I'd love to help out. I would
| suggest that instead of a daily post, this FAQ should be included in
| the confirmation that you get when you subscribe to the list, or
| perhaps sent as a second message at the same time;
Ditto. The list has enough volume as it is without adding an extra
mail every day. Sending it to new subscribers (or on-demand) sounds
like a good idea. I would also recommend making it fairly easy to
find on the signup/archive web pages.
| I imagine the following format:
|
| --- begin hypothetical message ---
...
I think this sounds like a great start. I would recommend changing
the opening paragraph some. When I sign up with a list I don't always
want to read a long message with lots of boring details sent to me
automatically by the list manager (ie marjordomo giving you its
manpage). To get people to actually read it the opening paragraph
should have some sort of catching statement to grab the reader's
attention in it. Maybe something like :
Read this before posting -- it may solve your problems for you.
or
If you don't read this before posting you are likely to get flamed
and very little help.
| --
| Q: Know what the difference between your latest project
| and putting wings on an elephant is?
| A: Who knows? The elephant *might* fly, heh, heh...
<grin>
-D
