Re: [Paddlewise] the "back-channel"

> that some posts receive _a lot_ more attention "off-line" than in the public
> forum.  Maybe this isn't even worth discussing, but my understanding, which
> can admittedly be flawed, is that PW was formed for the _sharing_ of
> information, knowledge, stories, etc between paddlers from all the
> paddlesports (that involve water).
>   Why all the talk "under the covers"?  I sometimes post directly in
> response to a question, but that's invariably because I goofed up and forgot
> to reply to the list.  Hey - if you have something to share why not share it
> with the whole group - if it's worth writing you might as well share it with
>

I hear you and second you Dave.  I started, and ran a web forum for musical
instrument makers a few years ago (www.mimf.com) and was totally bewilderded at
the number of people who would reply to peoples questions and discussions off
channel. The reason for the forum was to share, as this one is, and not take it
back channel.  A part of the reason for this was that I had a pretty formidable
rules of 'netiquette" which kept a lot of people from taking a 180 stance from
the posters stance.  Then again, some people just didn't get it and would post a
lot of  "me too" responses which just burned up bandwidth and served no
purpose.  PW's rules are not intimidating at all so I'm amazed that more people
don't respond more to the group, and that this is such a well behaved enclave.

I don't know to what extent flames and backbiting go on "back channel", but I
suspect it is mimimal.  This says a lot for the paddling community, Jackie's
vision, and this is one of the more civilized places to be on the web where no
one has to fear that one of the "big guns" are going to put you down for being a
neophyte or sticking your foot in your mouth.  I do it all the time, as we all
do, and I occasionally hit the wrong send button too...uh, vodka and e-mail
don't mix!  But, I've received a lot of back channel chat that would have better
served on the PW list instead.  It's bad form to forward something to the group
without having permission, so I've not done that, but a couple of times I've
responded to people that maybe the rest of you guys and gals would appreciate
the private reply to a post of mine.

Lurking is essential for feeling out the psyche of a list for a few months or
weeks, but this is such a wonderful community/list that I don't think anyone has
anything to fear from sharing.  I think it would be a wonderful service to this
list if more people would realize that at whatever level we're at now, that the
more advanced were there at some point in time too and love to share their
experiences without being overbearing or obsequiousness.

Nick (who agrees with Dave that lurkers and off channel people should come out
of the closet and share with us, at any level)





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