[Foundation-l] The state of Foundation-l (again) was: Recent firing?

[Ray Saintonge]

phoebe ayers wrote:
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Improving_Foundation-l is still up but
> hasn't gotten any new traffic in the last few weeks. Suggestions
> included:
> * starting a forum
> * starting an announcements list
> * limiting posting
>
>   
Looking at that discussion's history I see the following number of postings:
    Sept 9:   17
    Sept.10: 13
    Sept.11: 12
    Sept.12:  0
    Sept.13:  1
    Sept.14:  1
    Sept.15:  0
    Sept.16:  2
    Sept.17:  1
    ...and nothing since

So it seems that after three days the discussion had essentially run its 
course, much in the way of many mailing list threads, including 
controversial or even inflammatory threads. An analysis of more threads 
or wiki discussions in a similar way could be interesting.  I also not 
that the 9th was a Wednesday, and that the drop in list traffic on 
weekends may itself have a dampening effect on the life of threads in 
that list.

I would also suggest that any suggestion of moderation or other 
throttling strategy during the life helps to extend the life of an 
otherwise exhausted thread.  Perhaps that should be a mailing list 
corollary to Godwin's law.


Ec