AVR-Chat

>   Granted, and point taken.
> 
>   Never the less, there are advantages to a realtiome chat environment
> which are inarguable, and worth having available.  one would hope that
> ifg a solution is developed during such conversations, it might be
> mentioned on the mailing list, byt at least one participant (most
> probably the person for whom a problem is resolved).
> 
>   As I say, there are also social benefits that simply do not accrue to
> a mailing list environment.  It is much easier to become "friends" via
> chat than via email.
> 
>   I am somewhat surprised at the amount of negative response (though I
> did ask for it).  I wonder if perhaps an informal "vote" isn't in order?
> 
> Tom
> 

Tom,

Think of it being friendly & constructive more so than simply negative as that 
is the intent.

I accept your point that a rolling conversation on IM is likely to build 
friendships. That is great. But I am also aware of how much good information has 
slipped thru the cracks over the years by simple issues such as poorly targeted 
subject lines on emails.

Lists such as this are a valuable resource & form a beneficial archive of 
knowledge. When done correctly, emails distil a conversation to it's essentials, 
people have time to contemplate a reply & edit if necessary.  Merely copying 
chat to the list will produce reams of banter which conceals the valuable data 
contained therein. Not to mention peoples tendency to speak in mangled 
shorthand, which is at best just bloody irritating, but then I'm becoming a 
grumpy old fart that is starting to sound chillingly similar to my parents ;-)

At the end of the day you are free to do whatever you like. The point that I and 
others are making is to be aware of the resultant costs as well as the perceived 
benefits.

Cheers

Don