Damon Jason Casale wrote:

[snip]

After explaining that I'd sent a message to the
list in general, calling for at least a toning down of the sig war and
related spam, a couple of very vociferous complainers hammered at me with
things along the lines of:

Why not just delete the spam.

That right there is the heart of the problem. We shouldn't have to 
delete spam in the first place.

Wolf asked nicely. Roy asked bluntly. I'll plead. Please stop.

This list is supposed to be a place for authors to post thier fics and 
get C&C. Maybe and eigth of the posts I've gotten from here in the last 
week have been Fic or C&C. It's degenerated into a chat line, sorry to 
say.

I agree with Damon in that a little spam is fun and good for the soul, 
but when it reaches these levels it just becomes tedious.

I think we have lost a lot of valuable voices, blown out out cyberspace 
by the sheer volume of noise generated here. Hell, I know we have. Many 
have unsubbed and just hit the re-mailer.

It occurs to me that not everyone is aware of the definition of spam. If 
it isn't Fic, C&C or about writing in gerneral, it is considered spam 
for this list. If your reply doesn't fit into that definition, please 
take it to private mail. Or for all you .sig warriors, go to IRC. You'll 
prob. have more fun writing it there anyway.

[snip]
 

"I like the fanfics!  I like the spam.  It's what made the ML fun!"

The spam is fun for maybe 10 percent of the list. Sorry, but it's true. 
When people start complaining, then it is safe to assume that they are 
no longer having fun. This list had over 200 people on it last time I 
asked. We see maybe thirty of them posting regularly. That's a big 
silent majority that has been complaining.
 
[snip]

So again.  I'm not asking for the spam to cease.  I'm asking for a little
common courtesy and respect.  I'm sure that's not too much to ask.

No, it's not. At least I hope it's not.

Shannon