This same subject comes up about twice per year...here is the executive
brief on former discussions.

One camp wants a purely "technical" list-a Bentley Manual typed in by
people around the world. These folks are here to gain technical knowledge
about their van...they think an e-mail list with 800++ members around the
planet should provide efficient, quick, and clean technical advice. They
see the conversations on the list as a "burden"...so they struggle with
filters, and complicated sorting and deleting scenarios, while complaining
about "too many non-Vanagon postings". Since most every subject conceivable
has been discussed here at least once, I can't figure why these folks don't
simply search the archives for the information they need, buy a Bentley
manual, and quit complaining.

Another camp sees VW ownership as a cultural experience, and in particular,
Vanagon ownership as unique. While these folks are interested in the
technical aspects, they understand that concise technical information is
widely available in books, and in our archives. Instead, these folks enjoy
our list as another "community" they are part of. They want to know things
like "where others live". They find it more interesting to hear stories
from Yoshi, who actually lives in Japan, and don't care as much whether he
uses a click-type torque wrench.

Most people join an e-mail list to talk with others who share a common
bond; to talk about experiences, opinions, lives, things that aren't
available in any manual. If there is a mass exodus of people who are
frustrated because of the "signal to noise ratio" around here, so be it.
Let them curl up by the fire, and get the specific data they want from a
book.

Something you can't find in a book bonds this community together: our
knowledge of the lives of fellow Vanagon owners...Derek Drew's venture
capital pursuit, Michael Townsend's log cabin, Ken Wilford's growing
business, and real-life stories from Aussies, Cannucks, Brits, Koreans, and
others from around the world.

Why are you here? Think about it.

Cheers,

G. Matthew Bulley
Director
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Tom L. Neal [SMTP:jneal@NETCOM.COM]
Sent:   Friday, October 01, 1999 1:15 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        S.U.P.E.R. List

I try to support this S.U.P.E.R. list by sending messages that are

Succinct and to the point
Useful to many recipients
Positive toward others
Entertaining to the imagination
Relevant to vanagons.

Other messages I send to p-mail or the bit bucket.
Hopefully this message is perceived as S.U.P.E.R.

Cheers, Tom Neal, human being first, vanagon owner later