[PUP] Open vs Closed E-Mail lists (ex: Nordhavn 55 weblog?)

[Peter Pisciotta]

> Too bad  they [Nordhavn] won't open it [email list]
> up as I'm sure there's a lot of good info 
> there. 

The Willard Boat Owners list is about to turn 8-years
old, 9053 messages (about 100 per month now), and 555
members (including dead email addresses).

We have always been open to all who are interested:
owner, wannabe, whatever. A scan of recent topics
includes Willard 40 water tankage (around 300
gallons); removing concrete ballast from a Willard 36;
why many Willard 30's have a slight starboard list
(batteries); replacing a stuffing box on a Willard 36.
All tolled, there were about 225 production Willards
built, most were 30-footers.

The WBO list is self-moderating for the most part -
even with 555 members. We've had 4 or 5 instances of
spam, 2 or 3 instances of inappropriate advertising
posts (a memorable post by a broker selling a 45-foot
Egg Harbor sport fisher, for example), all leading to
about 5 banned members (including the Egg Harbor
broker). Not bad for 8-years, 555 members, 9000+
messages. While I understand the fear of having an
open list, our expereince just hasn't supported those
fears. Certainly makes me wonder whether 'advertising'
is really the reason why a group decides to be closed.

I'm not sure why a non-Willard enthusiast would want
to be part of our discussion given the mundane topics,
but our membership clearly wants that decision to be
made by the member, not the membership: the list is be
open to all comers. Personally, even as erstwhile
moderator, I'm vociferously against a closed list
because it has a 'clubby' feel that I'm uncomfortable
with. But I'm the Groucho Marx type of joiner:
wouldn't want to be part of a club that would have
someone like me as a member. I don't think the WBO
will ever close its ranks, but if it does, I'll be the
first to delete my membership. 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WillardBoatOwners/
(Must join Yahoo Groups to participate in any
Yahoo-hosted email group)

Peter
Willard 36 Sedan
San Francisco