Re: renaming the list (No Zep Content)

[Scott Swanson <swandwn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 17 Oct 1997, Williams, Chris (RSCH) wrote:

>Why do these entreaties always seem to be made in medias res? As I just
>discovered recently, Jay O'Toole has stated that he'd prefer that we
>rename the list because he had it first. Apparently this has been
>discussed on the admin list, but never communicated directly to the rest
>of us--at least I've never seen it coherently presented.

Yes.  Jay O'Toole had sent a letter to Chris Bucchere, voicing his concern
over the potential confusion between our mailing list and his fanzine
(which is no longer in print, btw).  Chris then forwarded the letter to
the administration list, and suggested that the list's name be changed.
Then during the back-and-forth discussions, somebody cross-posted to the
regular list and probably confused the whole lot of ya.

> From the bits
>and pieces that I've read here the Stratos dwellers--oh
>sorry--administrators appear to be sympathetic to his request. 

Chris thinks we should change the list name, but the discussion on the
"eskimo" list isn't between 'administrators'-- it's just between regular
subscribers who want to discuss list administration topics.  Everyone is
welcome to subscribe to that list.

>I'm sympathetic. However, I DO NOT think we should change the list's
>name, and here's why.
[snip]
>Let's get one thing straight: The Ocean was the name of a Led Zeppelin
>song.
[snip]
>The same could not be said if we had named the list "Proximity," "Early
>Days and Latter Days," or "Tight but Loose."

Excellent point.  In my personal opinion, Jay's claim to the name
"The Ocean" is extremely weak (especially when you consider that his
fanzine has been defunct for over 5 years now).  A simple disclaimer in
the welcome message is all that should be necessary to remedy this
problem.

However, I have never cared for the name "The Ocean."  It's too generic.
I would like to see us re-vote on the list's name.  And if we re-vote and
the members of this list *still* want "The Ocean" as its name, then the
name should stay.

>Therefore, I invite Jay to post his view to this list if he feels that
>I've misrepresented or misunderstood his POV.

I don't believe that Jay is subscribed to this list.

Later,

Scott
(swandwn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)