[Box-Admins] Re: Beginners Mailing List Administration/Moderation

[Ken Causey]

Thanks Bob,

To all:  I have separately replied to Bob with the new credentials and
I have cleared out the existing moderation queue.  Anyone interested
in helping out moderating or administering the beginners mailing list
should contact Bob.

Ken

On Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 6:54 AM, Bob Courchaine <bobc at nfldinet.com> wrote:
> i'm in, Ken.
>
> make the Mailman credential changes you proposed below, let me know
> what they are, nuke whatever we can't get to and we'll get back at it!
>
> Bob
>
> On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 1:09 PM, Ken Causey <ken at kencausey.com> wrote:
>> Thanks Bob,
>>
>> I've heard from Giovanni and unfortunately work has taken over for him
>> and he doesn't have time to administer the beginners mailing list any
>> longer.
>>
>> As you may be aware there are two categories of 'administrators' for
>> mailman mailing lists: administrators and moderators.  The way the
>> list is currently configured you, "Bob Courchaine"
>> <bobc at nfldinet.com>, are listed as the only 'administrator'.
>> (Giovanni was one but has asked to be removed and I have done so.)
>> Then there are three 'moderators': "Thushar G R"
>> <thushar.gr at gmail.com>, "Michaeal Davies" <mykdavies at gmail.com>, and
>> "Ziya Suzen" <ziya at suzen.net>.
>>
>> Moderators have one task which is to deal with the moderation queue
>> and there is a separate interface with this with a separate password
>> and this is the only interface to which a moderator would normally
>> have access.  Administrators on the other hand have full access to the
>> administrative interface for the mailing list which includes the
>> moderation queue as well as the overall mailing list settings,
>> membership management, etc.  An administrator is expected to take
>> responsibility for the list overall, with backing from the Box Admins
>> team when needed.
>>
>> As I said above you are currently listed as an 'administrator' and I
>> hope you will be willing to take and continue in that responsibility.
>> Also as I said above there are three others listed as moderator;
>> presumably, given the size of the moderation queue, they have
>> forgotten this.  I have included them in the Cc for this email and I
>> hope they will speak up and be willing to continue in that duty,
>> assuming it is needed.  Additionally I have Cc'ed Casey Ransberger who
>> has expressed a willingness to help out if it is needed and you may
>> want to speak with him if you feel you would appreciate his help.
>>
>> Assuming you are willing to act as administrator I propose the following:
>>
>> 1.  I generate new administrator and moderator passwords, set them in
>> the mailman interface, and give these to you.  (In practice the
>> moderation queue can be accessed with either the administrator or
>> moderator password.)
>>
>> 2.  I 'nuke' the current moderation queue as it is simply too large to
>> moderate in a normal fashion.
>>
>> 3.  You continue as before and speak with the other moderators and
>> possibly Casey about how to proceed with moderation in the future.
>>
>> Assuming the other moderators are willing to continue in that position
>> I would ask that they contact you and coordinate with you and get the
>> moderation password (which I will have given you) from you.
>>
>> In the long run I think it worth considering eliminating the bulk of
>> the need to moderate the mailing list by setting the list to discard
>> all messages from non-subscribers.  The beginners list is one of the
>> last to not take this step.  The list is a bit different and I
>> understand why you might want to take this route.  It might be worth
>> discussing with the list members however.  I can offer the ability to
>> automatically whitelist anyone who is subscribed already to the
>> squeak-dev mailing list.
>>
>> Please get back to me and if you are willing I will start the process
>> I outlined above.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Ken
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 5:01 AM, Bob Courchaine <bobc at nfldinet.com> wrote:
>>> i am still interested in helping, Ken. let me know the particulars and
>>> i'll get back at it!
>>>
>>> re: Giovanni, yes, he and i had shared the duties of spam patrol but
>>> i've not heard from/of him for some time.
>>
>