Hello All,
One of the reasons I resisted 'joining' the mailing list for so long was for exactly the reasons that have come about now. Indeed I assume that it was only because I contributed to the 20 for 1 song project that I find myself the recipient of emails from the list?

The 20 for 1 project was both an excellent idea and has been fun to participate in. However I did so as a member of this forum! I do in fact enjoy recieving such emails,(from the list) but at the same time am most uncomfortable with the exclusivity of such emails. If the emails are a part of this forum then they should be totally inclusive and available to everyone. After all it would be just as easy to opt out of the service as to opt in?

I really do not see the point in posting to the effect that there is information available elsewhere when it would be easier to post the information directly? This forum after all is exactly for that purpose....to share information on our common interest.

I can even accept that the email list is Beebops private affair and quite seperate from the forum. However if this is the case then surely as moderator Beebop realises that post such as above suggesting, (albeit inadvertantly), that you can only access certain information by being a member of a 'private club' do nothing to promote a sense of inclusivity within our little community.

Indeed as moderator I would assume that Beebop would be only too aware of the problems we have had in the recent past when some members deemed it their 'duty' to do anything possible to make well respected and longstanding technics members feel exluded and unwanted. Fortunately such action was not successful and I can only assume that it was done out of some misguided loyalty to some percieved hierarchy within this forum?

That is exactly why Beebop as moderator must be the one person SEEN to be inclusive. If not it just gives the more impressionable members amongst us the idea that as long as they are with the 'in crowd', or in some 'private club' they are free to act with impunity. This statement may be sad, controversial and unpalatable but it is human nature, not me that proves it to be true.

I have been around bbs boards, irc etc for quite a few years and was until recently an irc op myself. It has never ceased to amaze me how for the most part people tend to equate their importance within the group / community / board with how close they are or are percieved to be to the moderators / ops. Most seasoned moderators/ ops are in my experience all too aware of this sycophancy and detach themselves from it. More importantly they are seen to detach themselves from it. I am sorry to say it but being seen to promote a private email club does not give the impression of promoting inclusivity.

Tony