DeTomaso Mailing List: May 1997, Message #184
     



From: pantera@shiseis.com (Shane F. Ingate)

Subject: "Nettiquette" and the DeTomaso forum

Date: Wed, 7 May 97 11:47:33 PDT



All,



The recent topic on vendor exposure on the DeTomaso

list is most interesting.  I have not answered till now, so that

I could sample some of your responses.  Why me?  As list administrator,

I can be viewed as a benevolent/malevolent dictator.  I originally

established the list as unmoderated, because I felt that I should

interfere with DeTomaso-owner creativity as little as possible.



My early decision has paid off.



I am most pleased with the way the list is running.  It is very

active, and I have learn't a lot, and made many new friends, even discovered

some quirks in my older friends.  Above all, I have had fun!



In writing this note, and setting down protocol for the list, I have

borrowed heavily from other lists that I subscribe to.  In short,

I believe the minor amount of "vendor loyalty" expressed by some members

is in keeping with the free nature of this list.  This is to be expected,

because we are sharing information.  I anticipate that at some

time too, we may even hear some "vendor bashing".  If such a thing ever

became too vitriolic, I would politely ask the people involved to tone

it down.  However, this too can benefit owners, but before anybody

does so, I would expect them to have taken all reasonable steps in

resolving the matter with the vendor.



Such is the nature of vendor competition.  To David Adler, I say

that I am suprized that there has not been more PI involvement in the

list.  PI was the first vendor to use the cyber medium as a place to announce

their presence.  And they are to be applauded for that.  If other vendors

see this as an approach for increased exposure, it is a simple matter

these days to obtain a free Juno account and also contribute to the list.

Or they too, could set up a web site like PI and Wilkinson.



I would like to see more involvement from the vendors, not only

in the form of technical help, but also advertising sales, new

products, "road tests" of products, monthly blurbs, demonstrations, open

house days, updates to web sites, race days, etc.  This kind of information

can only benefit us all.  Why wait for the monthlies from POCA and PI?



The same applies to the clubs (and their chapters).  Similarly

owners should feel free to advertise DeTomaso-related junk that may

exceed their garage-space quota, etc.



I will take exception to outright spamming, and excessive

unsolicited advertising, as I do not believe that this to be in the

nature of the list.  If the "signal-to-noise" ratio exceeds, say 5%,

then we may revisit the issue.  At the current rate, 5% is 20 messages

per month.



Finally, c'mon guys and gals, loosen up.  We owe the vendors

a tremendous amount.  They, like us, are passionate about these cars.

If it were not for them, our Panteras would be more like other exotics

(unfortunately) and relegated to the ranks of trailer queens and museum

collections, rather than be driven hard!



Shane Ingate (El Duce)

DeTomaso List Admin.