I just wanted to let everyone know that my http://countrybirding.com forum has a General wildlife/nature discussion area, we are totally ad-free, and the forum is completely moderated to eliminate spam. So if any of you feel like dropping by with your non-birding (or birding) observations, you will certainly be welcomed.

I know how frustrating it can be to want to talk about non-birding issues and have no where to go, which is one of the reasons I set up my site a couple of years ago. Don't be afraid to drop by. :) We also have a photo gallery where you can post your photos. :)

Marian Murdoch
Belfair, WA
marianmurdoch at yahoo.com

----- Original Message ----
From: Scott Downes <downess at charter.net>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 9:10:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] re: off topic nature issues


Tweets,
I agree with most of Dave's points. I promise this is the last post from me
on this issue, but wanted to clarify something. I agree that yahoo lists
require the list manager to put in quite a bit of time and that isn't
something to be taken lightly, actually it makes no difference to me if its
taken at all, was merely brainstorming and sharing of an idea to parties
that might like to run with the idea. I would like to point out that the
task is manageable for somebody willing to take it on. Denny Granstrand
manages BirdYak here for yakima county birders, it is a yahoo based listserv
and it has been going for quite a few years now. It is intensively screened
and I've never received Spam from this listserv (kudos btw for the hard
work). So just wanted to point it out that it is possible if somebody was
inclined to do it. I don't have a listserv myself and have never managed
one, so do not know all of the details, simply know that it is possible to
set one up and manage it functionally for members for somebody inclined to
do such a list.

Back to bird sightings, discussions or whatever,

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA



----- Original Message -----
From: "dave templeton" <crazydave65 at inbox.com>
To: "Scott Downes" <downess at charter.net>; <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 5:47 PM
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] re: off topic nature issues


hi all:

regarding the suggestion of setting up another list using one of the
hostserv or listserv systems, my experience of late with them has been poor.
spammers and other neer-do-wells seem to thrive on nettling the folks on
those lists. some of the sexual suggestions offered as services on a couple
of the other lists i subscribe to are probably not physically possible.
thus, it appears that _all_ messages have to be screened by someone. the
fact this list goes through the univ and is moderated makes such things
unlikely, going to yahoo or aol or some other such service is another kettle
of fish. taking on the task of running a new list is probably not something
to take lightly.

with regard to mention of other critters on this list, i don't mind. for
fifty years or more the suggestion the birds and reptiles should really be
in one class has always had adherents. as was also pointed out by others,
it really is not possible to think about birds without thinking of
relationship to the rest of the creatures and things on the globe. the
notion that the only thing that should be addressed on the list is what bird
somebody saw where seems a bit sterile to me. further, taken to its
extreme, that position seems to me to outlaw discussions of subspecies and
variants by us. one might mention "i saw a blah-blah as described by
so-and-so on page x of his/her book _____", but stating any personal
thoughts would violate the 'i saw' rule, it seems to me.

i've only been on the list this year, so i probably am not entitled to an
opinion, but i've offered it anyway.

regards,

dave t
crazydave65atcenturyteldotnet

> -----Original Message-----
> From: downess at charter.net
> Sent: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:26:41 -0700
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: [Tweeters] re: off topic nature issues
>
> Tweets,
> Something Dennis said caught my eye and thought I'd respond.
>
> He stated "Sadly, there is no local listserve for discussing other
> aspects
> of nature (there is one on butterflies, I believe), so tweeters fulfills
> an
> important need. As Brian Bell wrote, the breadth of discussion on
> tweeters
> is what makes it a unique resource."
>
> I don't intend to comment on whether certain discussions belong on
> tweeters
> or not. There are listing rules and whether you like them or hate them,
> by
> being on the list means you are in some form ok with them.
> What I would like to offer is an idea; with different services like Yahoo
> groups or other listserv hosting places its fairly easy to set up a
> listserv, all you need is someone willing to serve as manager and enough
> people interested to join. If enough people would like to debate
> northwestern ecology or herps etc.. maybe some people may be interested
> in
> getting together to form a separate listserv for such topics. Just a
> thought, I'm by no means offering to do it myself and not commenting on
> whether these issues should be on tweets or not, just providing an
> alternative.
>
> An interesting discussion on herps and native fauna.
>
> Scott Downes
> downess at charter.net
> Yakima WA
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

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