Re: Sell-3d

[P3D <PTWW@xxxxxxx>]

As with most issues, a lot of good arguments, both pro and con, are
being heard. ;) It is easy to see why it was a very difficult decision
for the moderators.

I agree with the earlier comment applauding the point Peter Davis makes 
about digest vs. immediate mode for the different lists.  But DrT's
point that the volume of commercial postings has been pretty low in
P3d, "not enough to justify the split," also makes sense.

I would add, however, that IMO there *have been* transgressions on
P3d.  Recently, a representative of a commercial organization posted
a 1900 byte promotional response, esentially an excerpt from a 7900
byte promotional response posted only 10 days earlier.  The 1900 byte
excerpt "response" quoted 100% of an (admittedly long) 4800 byte
photo-3D posting, making the total post 6700 bytes.  The purported
"response" was at best only tangentially relavent to the question
posed.  It was painfully difficult to suppress the urge to publicly
flame the responsible individual.  I considered filing a formal
complaint with the moderators, but did not do so.  I have to wonder
whether someone else did, or whether this incident played any part
in the adoption of this new policy.  If it did, it certainly is
discouraging that, as usual, one inconsiderate person can have such
a profound impact on the structure and operation of the entire list.

Now for a question: what sort of rules will the new list have regarding
this sort of commercial posting?  Will we have to wade through that
same 7900 byte promotional post hitting the list on an hourly, daily,
or weekly basis?  I have seen BBS classified listings where retail
vendors post the same information one or more times per day in a
constant attempt to keep their names at the top of the list.  The
e-mail nature of sell-3d will not have as strong an incentive to do
something like that, but I can certainly envision such a commercial
operation trying to have their message appear in every single digest.
Once several vendors take that approach, sell-3d would become close
to useless.  Do the rules of the new list address this situation?

Paul Talbot


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