>Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 16:26:55 -0800
>From: dpaulson at ups.edu (Dennis Paulson)

>If anyone thinks I'm giving aesthetics, philosophy, or meaningful
>experiences short shrift, or would like to discuss science further, please
>mail me directly, or we'll get into another "what, no birds again?" thread.

OK, now you did it! So unlike you, Dennis.

Let's ask Tweeter's owner, Daniel?, if he is willing to set up a second
discussion list, to which we can shunt "off-topic" tweeters discussion
threads, for those of us who enjoy pursuing those off-topics on-list.

Rationale: There seems to be a reasonably large contingent of tweeters
who either contribute to these off-topic discussions or who at least
listen with courtesy and interest (or Delete in silence!).

This will provide us with a new forum for discussing most of the things
that makes birding and science human. Tweeters will handle the bird
observations, field trip and other announcements, and first-instance
"off-topic" messages that poke their noses insidiously into otherwise
innocent on-topic messages.

I would imagine that all tweeters would continue to subscribe to tweeters,
and some proportion would _in addition_ subscribe to tweetoff.

The only "effort" on the part of tweeters subscribers will be to
self-recognize that a reply is now in the realm of "off-topic" and should
be sent to tweetoff rather than replying to tweeters (perhaps splitting the
reply into its on-topic and off-topic components, sending each to its
respective appropriate list. People who know an initial message is off-topic
will simply send it to tweetoff and never make that initial faux pas.

For those who would say --just go to birdchat, I say ok, but I also ask
why do these discussion arise and thrive on tweeters (too)? Seems there
is a need here as well.

To those who would say --tweeters itself is the fine place for _all_ these
topics, I refer you to Dennis (who I know likes this stuff, and is probably
just trying to be courteous and at least a little birdy too just for good
measure).

Comments? (sorry --no tweetoff yet-- gotta reply here)

Background: I hate starting new lists; there must be a list (among the
6000 or so) that embodies just what I suggest above. Anyone know which
one it is (maybe it _is_ birdchat)?
Peter