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(meteorobs) What is 'meteorobs' here for? (was Re: When Experts Speak...)


Chuck, I just wanted to put in a final comment on your post, and some of the
follow-ups. We are a broad and diverse community, everyone... I try to stress
that fact in every public posting which I make on 'meteorobs'.

Included in this diversity are both "newbies", and observers who have been at
this "meteor thing" for 40 years, and professional (or amateur!) scientists
whose main interest is meteoroid stream prediction, meteor physics, and such.


I think that having ONE community where all such viewpoints are represented
can be very powerful! It means that the newcomer can learn very rapidly and
reliably (if they wish) about many different nuances of the given topic. And
what's more (and this can be overlooked), it causes the seasoned "Old Salts"
to occasionally re-examine their own knowledge and experience, based on the
input of fresh ideas! This is the essence of what we want 'meteorobs' to be.

One common problem with such open forums, of course, is sheer VOLUME! So to
prevent that volume from becoming a burden to all our readers, we *DO* keep
the discussions on our list focused in one VERY NARROW AREA... In this way,
ALL of us can participate and benefit - no matter what our experience level.



So to reiterate and clarify what is stated in the introductory message to
every new subscriber (and on our Website!), here are some things that ARE,
MAY BE, and ARE NOT considered to be "on topic" for 'meteorobs':

===========================================================================

ON-TOPIC:

1) Meteor Observing FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES by amateurs and professionals.
   (This includes visual, video, radio, telescopic, photographic, etc.)
2) The science of meteors, meteor showers/meteoroid streams, and comets.
   (This includes discussion by both professionals and "amateurs", since
    the topic of meteor science clearly spans both communities!)
3) Publication or announcement of *results* from either (1) or (2) above.

===========================================================================
===========================================================================

"SORT OF" ON-TOPIC - i.e., "WELCOME ANY TIME THE LIST IS QUIET":
(These topics are occasionally proscribed if traffic gets heavy: after
all, we don't want a global announcement that a meteor storm is now in
progress to be drowned out by posts about the best sleeping bag to use!)

1) Anything *specifically* related to the challenges meteor observers may
   face - including cold-weather observing, mosquitoes, circadian rhythms,
   human vision, image intensifiers, "SporadicE" interference, etc, etc...
2) Meteor observing FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSES - this includes both casual
   major-shower watching for fun, and photography and video, etc.
3) Important announcements and discussion about comets and asteroids (after
   all, these are where meteors come from!), and about meteorites.
4) Almost ANY related topic, so long as it is *properly limited*, and it
   is carried on in a respectful and friendly manner by all participants.

===========================================================================
===========================================================================

*NOT* ON-TOPIC:

1) ANYTHING derogatory, disrespectful, hurtful, personally oriented,
   with commercial intent, or meant for only one or a few recipients.
2) Advertisement or general "product recomendations" (unless related
   to the "sort of" topics numbered (1) or (2) above!) Also included
   in this restriction is commercial meteorite dealing, for example.
   NOT included in this restriction, for example, would be *limited*
   discussion about products to reduce mosquitos. (OUCH, they hurt!)
3) General astronomical observing - although don't forget that meteor
   observing *IS* perhaps the best introduction to astronomy for new-
   comers, and so we *DO* specifically encourage a certain number of
   "Help me find my way around the night sky?" queries on this list!
4) General astronomy science discussion - there are a whole host of
   other email fora and Web sites out there for this kind of topic.
5) Conspiracy theories, "alternative" science (UNLESS it is specific
   to the discussion of meteor science, that is!), or UFOs.
6) *Extended discussions* about what is and is not "on topic"!! :)

===========================================================================


I hope the above helps? I ask now that all of us put aside any rancor
caused by this thread, and move on to the topic which WE ARE ALL HERE
TO TALK ABOUT - which as you may have guessed, is meteors. :)


NOTE: If anyone has a follow-up on the preceding, DO NOT DIRECT IT TO
THE 'meteorobs' LIST! Instead, please direct it to me privately, and I
will be happy to respond, and to summarize any points raised later on.


Thanks everyone, and clear skies to all!
Lew Gramer <owner-meteorobs@atmob.org>


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