[meteorite-list] A Call For A New Meteorite List

Thu Jan 6 01:43:06 EST 2005

Dear kind, gentle, patient, and knowledgeable Meteorite Folks,

I'm hearing:

"NEW LIST!"   "NEW LIST!"   "MODERATED LIST!"   "MODERATED LIST!"

Well, folks, before we get a lynch mob all worked up here, let's rake 
this mess over
the coals a few times and see how it smells then...

First (and with great deference and appreciation to Art for his 
contribution in providing
this List with a home for these several years- it ain't his fault we 
can't behave), let's
look at the "NEW LIST" options. The following is a list of a few other 
meteorite related
lists to which I have been subscribed for a few years. Please Note: At 
one time, these,
too, were NEW LISTS.

Let's do some one-on-one comparisons:

* eBay Meteorites           http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eBayMeteorites/

This group is for eBay Meteorite auction sales and announcements. 
Authentic meteorites and
related items only, and International Meteorite Collectors Association 
membership preferred.

I believe this is the list that Steve Shoner (I could be wrong about 
that) graciously established
due to the outrage expressed by some MetCentral List members who 
objected to the Sale
Announcement ads being posted on the MetCentral List. After voluminous 
discussion on the
MetCentral List it was vaguely agreed that all sales ads would be 
prefaced with the notice
"AD" in the subject line. For the most part this has has been a 
reasonably well followed rule,
or agreement, - except for the usual offenders. I'll bet that most of 
you who aren't members
of the eBay Meteorites list would be shocked at whom some of the biggest 
users and
supporters of this list have been.

   Members: 59 / Created: Oct.14th, 2003 / Messages posted: Oct 14th - 
Dec 31st 2003 = 141
   Posts for the entire year of 2004 = 96.   (33 for June thru Dec 
2004.) Although it was an
   excellent idea, the support for the venture appears to be waning. 
Personal Note: I've made 
   the large majority of my meteorite purchases (both eBay and 
otherwise) from the ads that
   have been posted to the MetCentral List.

NOT A 'GENERAL' METEORITE RELATED DISCUSSION GROUP.

*  Meteorite Sales              
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meteorite_sale/

 Mailing list for posting wants/sales/trades of meteorites or other 
objects of interest to the
 meteorite collector.

     Members: 245 / Created: Apr 30th, 1998 / Aver. yearly postings- 
'99-'04 = 208.

     [Sorta goofy rules for sellers using this list.]

*  meteoritecollector            
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meteoritecollector/

    The Michael Cottingham Collection Of Meteorites. The purpose of this 
list is to provide
    meteorite sales, news, meteorite hunting and collecting information.

    Members: 96 / Created: Jun 21st, 2000 / Aver. yearly postings- 
'00-'04 = 32.25

*   MeteoriteCollectors          
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MeteoriteCollectors/

     Meteorite collectors discuss meteorites and collecting. This group 
is open to
     EVERYONE interested in meteorites. Dealers are welcome to post sales.

     Members: 154 / Created: Apr 26th, 2000 / Aver. yearly postings- 
'01-'04 = 405

*   Meteorite World               
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meteoriteworld/

     Would you like look for meteorites, sell your meteorites 
collection, or discuss with other
     meteorite researchers? Please Join the Meteorite World club. Here, 
there are the people
     enthusiastic in the meteorites like you.

     Members: 53 / Created: Jul 24, 1999 / Aver. yearly postings- '00 
-'04 =  30.8

*   Meteoritical Bulletin           
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MeteoriticalBulletin/

     This group will be used to announce actions taken by the Meteorite 
Nomenclature Committee
     of the Meteoritical Society. Items posted here will include 
descriptions of newly found or fallen
     meteorites and new meteorite classifications. Information will be 
posted as soon as possible
     following approval by the Committee.

     Members: 638 / Created: May 28th, 2000 / TOTAL postings- years '01 
-'04 =  21

     NOT A 'GENERAL' METEORITE RELATED DISCUSSION GROUP.

*    meteortrade                     
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meteortrade/

      This is a forum for collectors, dealers, and anyone who are 
interested in the hobby of
      collecting meteorites. You may post meteorites that you have for 
sale or for trade.

       Members: 44 / Created: Feb 24th, 1999 / Aver. yearly postings- 
'99 -'04 =  49.33

Note: Since I included Michael Cottingham's group lists above- it's only 
fair to include
Matt Morgan's site here.

*    milehighmeteorites            
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/milehighmeteorites/

      This is a sales message only site, unlike most of the above sites. 
Only the moderator
      may post messages.

*     The Meteorite Express           
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themeteoriteexpress/

       Trying to find out if that rock is a meteorite?
       Find a great meteorite deal? See a big rip-off on a meteorite 
somewhere.
       Post your message here...come on, join us, the water's fine!
       *** CHAT 8:00pm cst MONDAY ****

       Members: 64 / Created: Mar 18th, 2000 / Aver. yearly postings- 
'00 -'04 = 28.2

There are probably other meteorite related group lists out there. The 
ones listed above
are the ones that I found from a search I made several years ago. I've 
just sort of hung in
there with them since they are obviously of little bother.

The point I'm trying to make with this is that there exists alternatives 
to the MetCentral
list already. I suspect that a "NEW LIST" would probably be doomed to 
sharing the
approximate statistics as the ones mentioned above within a very short time.

A good many of you have overlooked the fact that this list is vibrant 
and viable- with the
exception of a few- including the astute Mr. Gwilliam who said, in 
effect, 'Why re-invent
the wheel. This one works pretty good- let's fix it.'

Danged right the List has some problems, but it's by far the best thing 
going. I, too, would
like to see some of the recurring problems thinned out. It takes time, 
effort, and persistence
to do this.

I, like many on the List, would like to see the List return to its tenor 
and manner of 'the
good old days'. But, if you will read the archieves, you will be 
reminded that even the
'good old days' were not without their share of controversy, acrimony, 
and off topic
nonsense. But, at the same time, there was proportionately more actual 
discussion of
meteoritical topics. It's really not all that bad today- you just have 
to cut through a bit
more chaff to get to the real meat. I do miss some of the early 
contributors, though.
But there are recent contributors that are adding a lot to list content 
that is for the good.
Things change.

Now- on to the cry for a "MODERATED LIST'. This would open up a whole 
new can
of worms. Just a few of the complaints to be expected are: delayed 
postings, unfair
censorship, charges of favoritism, and numerous others that I won't list.

Then there's the problems associated with finding moderator(s). There 
had better be
several working in shifts since this list is a 24/7 operation. 
Personally, I like it like that.
I wouldn't particularly like having to wait several hours, or a day or 
two, to see my post
show up (or not), or wait to get any responses that might be quickly 
forthcoming. One of
the beautiful things about this list is its immediacy. When you stick in 
moderators, that's the
first thing you lose.

One of the reasons I read the list postings regularly is that I'm 
waiting for that post that
shouts "Meteorite Hits West Texas (Again)."  I might not be the first 
one to the fall site
but I can certainly guarantee there will be a whole herd there after me. 
I missed being
in Monahans (34 miles from Odessa, my home) early because I was in 
Dallas at the time.
But I'm still looking for some of its cousins. I know they're out there 
hiding and waiting
for me.

Let's save this very valuable asset that we currently have in the form 
that it has always
existed. Let's just try to find a way to tweak the offending contributors.

Let's try to help the folks creating the problems realize that their 
posts are inappropriate,
or suggest they sign up elsewhere, or take up another hobby. Let's try 
to eliminate the
profanity (a totally unnecessary nuisance). It has no place in a forum 
that has, or should
have, a diverse membership.

Same goes for the off-topic posts that seem to last forever. Take it off 
list.

But please don't try to eliminate the occasional good humor. It helps 
the day go better.
Eliminate the rare, casual fun that comes through the list sometimes, 
and you'll have a
dry, academic atmosphere. Wouldn't take long before more than a few of 
the list
members walked if that were the prevailing attitude. Keep it warm, 
friendly, and
personable, and lets talk meteorites. It's pretty much already that way 
with only a few
malefactors. Oh yes, there was a femalefactor here once, but she moved 
to Alaska and
now has no internet access. :-D

Well shucks, I've been at this on and off for several hours today and I 
see I'm starting
to get silly- so I quit.

Best regards to all,

Jerry

PS... Thanks again, Art. I, for one, think you're doing an exceptional 
and outstanding job.