Dear Mr. White,

Thank you so much for the advice and support. I've thought a lot about this
(after all the fuss), and I'll never go the attchment route again. I am
surprised to learn that people automatically download attachments without
knowing what they are. This seems dangerous, considering the virus
possibilities, not to mention a waste of computer network and internet time
and bandwidth. But I hear now that subscribing to the listserve digest
version doesn't allow one any other choice.

I read the lists FAQ before I did it by the way, and there are no list rules
regarding uploading or downloading attachments there. It would have helped if
there were something there.... are you suggesting that there is a list of
rules somewhere other than the FAQ? I would be happy to know where these
are...

Thanks again,

Allan

In a message dated 9/19/99 11:04:52 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:

>I suppose at this point it is a little late to take a moderate position on
>this topic, but I'd like to weigh in for the middle.  While I also had to
>download the two files (I use Outlook Express on a PC) and was a little
>peturbed at the wasted time and breach of a general rule of nettiqutte (if
>not breaking, to my knowledge, an actual list rule) I am embarrassed as a
>museum professional by the rude post by Mr. Friedman.  Certainly this topic
>could have been discussed more constructively and politely. (No matter how
>inane Museum-L chatter can get, at times, I always advise people to keep
>reading.  It can sometimes let you know just how low discouse in the
>profession can get and prepare you to deal with it.)
>
>To Mr McCollum:  I too thought your attachment was excessive, however,
>Mr. Freidman does not speak for me. You obviously spent a lot of time
compiling
>a file that was helpful to some of our fellow professionals. You should
>be commended for your leg work and commitment of time and energy to the
>profession.  However, I had to tie up my phone line with both files as
>I believe others did.  I would suggest in the future posting a small exceprt
>or abstract and giving people the option of asking you directly for it.
>
>Then you could send it one at a time or collect the addresses and bulk mail
>it at the end of a couple of days or a week.  (I too thought the web idea
>was sort of like hunting mosquitos with a bazooka, unless you already
>have a web or ftp site)  Many mail programs also have the option (usually
listed
>under mail actions or in the case of Outlook "in box asistant") which will
>automatically send a file if an email comes in with a specific subject line.
>I have used this option before and it is very useful.
>
>And Mr. Freidman:  I don't care how long it took me to download Mr.
>McCollom's files, I would rather spend 20 minutes on his message than 2
>seconds on yours.  Your message was every much a breach of list ettiquette
>as Mr. McCollom's, perhaps more and was by far the bigger waste of time
>and bandwidth.  I just can't understand why you and others would rather
respond
>
>in a rude, unhelpful way than in a politely constructive manner.  If your
>goal is to change posting behavior the latter is MUCH more efficient than
>the latter.
>
>Just one Matt's plea to keep public, professional discourse on at least a
>moderately polite level.
>
>
>Matthew White
>
>Director of Education
>B&O Railroad Museum
>901 W. Pratt Street
>Baltimore, MD 21223
>410/752-2461
>
>

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