Mailing lists are an interesting phenomenon. A while ago, ITWeb published a column on how a comment about cyclists made on a mailing list was circulated to the cycling community and resulted in death threats being made to the originator of the mail.
Users of mailing lists tend to forget that they are on a public forum, and while they might know most of the people on the list fairly well, there are always one or two unfamiliar people who might take offence.
The problem with offence taken on a mailing list is that it can escalate pretty quickly. After a fray broke out about top posting (replying to an e-mail at the top of the page, rather than under the appropriate comment) on a list that I frequent, someone commented to a new and vitriolic member that he should comport himself as if he was at a dinner party.
The point was that while there might be a comfortable anonymity to posting on a mailing list, coming in and insulting everyone is tantamount to arriving at a dinner party of people who are getting along fine, and enjoying a bit of a political debate, and tearing chunks out of someone you happen to disagree with.
By the same token, if at a dinner party, someone asked that you don`t put your takkies on the sofa, you would generally apologise and remove them. However, when someone on a mailing list makes a polite request about general etiquette on the list, or "netiquette", a "flame war" usually ensues.
The problem with offence taken on a mailing list is that it can escalate pretty quickly.
Editor, ITWeb Brainstorm
The problem with communicating online and in writing is that it is far more difficult to assess tone, or use any other non-verbal cues to work out whether you are treading on people`s toes.
At a dinner party, if you were to start bashing creationists, the alarmed raising of the eyebrows of the host, or a swift kick under the table from a friend will alert you to the fact that the woman in the corner subscribes to that school of thought.
More subtly, it is possible to observe the reception of a comment that you make, and immediately tone down subsequent comments if people react strongly. On a mailing list, some people only see your comment hours or even days after you`ve made it, so you might have blundered deep into insult territory before you can try to explain yourself.
And of course, on a mailing list, everyone has, in black and white, your original comment to use against you.
In spite off all the infighting, mailing lists are fantastic for expressing views and learning a thing or two. And there are lists out there for almost every topic or area of interest imaginable. Just remember your manners.
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