List or Newsgroup: Post Rationale

[TomDeVrie@xxxxxxx]

The discussion re: professional-oriented listserv vs. general audience
newsgroup will be repeated in many disciplines as Internet access increases
by 10X or more in next couple years.  An explicit and public rationale for
use of both forums should be posted in both forums.  Suggestion:  term paper
requests, news commentary, hobbyist correspondence - newsgroups.
 Professional meetings, philosophy, specific requests re: taxa, methodology -
Paleonet.  Request for email or ftp addresses, public policy issues - both
forums.  Make this explicit weekly in auto-posted focused FAQ.  In FAQ,
emphasize probable lack of response if message posted in wrong forum.
 Mismatched requests can be forwarded to appropriate forum by Good Samaritan
and ignored by rest.

The traffic in inappropriate postings will only grow if problem is ignored.