On Sat, 27 Feb 1999 19:28:57 -0500, a person wrote:

>Greetings, All. I am a new member to the List. I haven't yet posted
>an introduction here, but will do so shortly.

This reminded me of something.   ( It has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do
with the person who stated the above, by the way. )

I subscribe to several mailing lists and a number of newsgroups.   The smallest
mailing list has well over a hundred people and the largest well over a
thousand.   The newsgroups may have a hundred thousand readers each or more.

Anyway, I was wondering where the idea came from, that each subscriber to the
mailing list ought to introduce themselves, in the form of relating personal
information.

NOTE:   This is not a criticism of anyone who has done so, just an inquiry.

When I subscribe to the local newspaper, there is absolutely no accompanying
notion that I send a letter to the editor telling everyone about myself.   Nor
is there usually any such information about any of the writers in newspapers or
magazines.   (In fact, if you did want such information, it can be hard to come
by.)

I've participated in newsgroups and mailing lists for ten years, and I'm baffled
as to where this idea originated.    My guess is that it must be a crossover
from some other social form that I am not aware of.   Anyone have any ideas?

By the way, I made a point of asking this here, because this is one of the more
intelligent and rational forums.    I could well imagine posting this message in
some of the newsgroups, and being flamed in acid tones about what a cold and
hateful person I am -- even though I have condemned nothing! :-)


--
Cheers,

Ken                         <*>
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