Tom and I are in agreement on at least one key point:
Statalist members should use their personal judgement
on this issue, and indeed much else. I never meant to
suggest otherwise.
It's important, I think, that I am far from the only person who
has drawn attention from time to time to this and other
abuses. Those who think that this kind of criticism
is ungentle or impolite can readily find much harsher technical
lists if they look hard enough. Also, I know from
private correspondence and discussion that many members of
the list do appreciate that standards must be
maintained somehow and are, for a mix of fairly obvious reasons,
content that someone else does it.
New members are precisely those members who have been
asked to read the Statalist FAQ recently, when they
joined the list. If they do not do that, or it appears
that they have not done that, why it is unacceptable
to remind people of the rules, such as they are,
from time to time?
Nick
[email protected]
Steichen, Thomas J.
> Despite the fact that I agree that providing full references
> are in the best interests of a Statalist poster, I strongly
> disagree that such posters should be publicly denigrated on
> the list for failing to provide such. This issue has gone
> from appropriate gentle reminders to what I see as
> inappropriate flamings.
>
> Realistically, I think more harm will come to Statlist from a
> a continuation of flaming than if the whole issue was ignored.
>
> Why not let those who do not help themselves (by providing
> full references) simply be ignored? If the list has become a
> "what's in it for me?" exercize for responders, they should
> simply stop responding.
>
> My impression is that the recently-flamed posters are also
> recent additions to the list... Isn't it clear that flaming
> is simply not the way we should be welcoming new participants?
>
> I invite Statalist members to use their personal judgment
> concerning whether to refuse to answer postings with incomplete
> references and to consider leaving the list if they believe
> their personal gain (a potentially useful reference) justifies
> flaming.
n j cox
> Despite many requests and a detailed exhortation in the
> FAQ, postings with incomplete references (name(s) and date only or
> even names alone) persist. It should be self-evident that incomplete
> references are obscure to very many; only complete references are
> helpful. Also, the implication that you care only about
> people in your
> own sub-discipline who may know the answer is insensitive, if
> not mildly
> offensive.
>
> I invite Statalist members to refuse to answer postings with
> incomplete references and to complain personally to
> people who insist on ignoring good practice.
>
> People who want to participate in an alternative list based
> on different principles should feel free to set it up and
> run it their way. Otherwise, expect the disapproval of those who have
> worked hard to set high standards on this list and to
> maintain them. Statalist is free and there is no charge
> for the quick, correct and helpful answers likely if you ask
> clear questions, but there is not a free ride for people who
> won't even think carefully about their postings.
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