[Tutor] META: Moderation and subscription to the tutor list

[cs at zip.com.au]

On 01May2016 14:18, Steven D'Aprano <steve at pearwood.info> wrote:
>Hi Alan,
>
>I thought I'd mention that the list-owners of "python-list" have now
>decided to only allow people to post if they are subscribed to the list:
>
>https://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list/2016-April/707571.html
>
>The motivation is to ensure that if people ask a question, and people
>reply only to the list, the original poster has at least a chance of
>seeing the replies.
>
>Of course, in the case of python-list, non-subscribers can just use the
>Usenet interface (comp.lang.python, or Google Groups, or gmane). But
>anyone using Usenet is presumably savvy enough to check for replies
>using Usenet.
>
>What's your policy here on the tutor list? I think we should require
>subscription before people can post. (And I think we should default to
>individual emails, not daily digest.)

I am not Alan, but personally I am +0.8 and +1 on these.

I think requiring subscription ensures that users see responses. I don't know 
if tutor is already like that, and requiring subscription _does_ raise the bar 
for people coming for help. I would hope that any "please subscribe in order to 
post" list responses to newcomers was both welcoming and very clear on how to 
do it.

There seems to me a subjectly large number of very short threads with a 
question from someone, a couple of responses from list members, and no further 
reply.

To me this argues that either newcomers are not subscribed and probably do not 
see any responses, or that sufficient are discourteous enough or naive enough 
to nothing bother to acknowledge help.

Finally, I would like to see digest simply not offered. They are a disaster.  
They break subject lines, threading and bury responses in noise.

Cheers,
Cameron Simpson <cs at zip.com.au>