2 commands missing from basic list?

[Bill Barry]

Matt Mackall wrote:
> It's a burden because as the primary developer, I have something of an
> obligation to actually read all the email here. And not coincidentally,
> I'm usually the number one poster because I'm answering many of those
> emails.
>   
Please don't feel like you have that obligation. While you might be the 
only one who can answer between 1 and 10 percent of the questions, your 
time is probably better spent dealing with the many patches that come in 
every week on the devel list (where you are needed in probably 60-80% of 
the discussions). I expect that you have a real job to do as well, don't 
you (if not, how do I sign up)?  There seems to be plenty of people on 
this list who are qualified to answer most of the questions posted. I 
wouldn't worry about the contents of this list unless you find yourself 
posting 10+% of the time.

There will always be heavy list users. The best any of us can do is to 
encourage them to stay active on the list as long as possible.  Patrick 
may be asking the occasional "dumb" question right now (this cannot be 
avoided) but with any perseverance on our part he could very well stay 
nearly as active on the list as he is currently, answering 15% of the 
questions posted himself.

>   
>>   This IS the user list, right?
>>     
>
> No, it's the userS list. A subtle but important distinction. We're happy
> to answer your questions, but there are 800 other people on this list
> and we need to leave time and space for them to ask questions as well.
>   
Not true. A mailing list doesn't have a space limitation for users. Only 
a bandwidth limitation on the part of the people answering the 
questions. Every post that those of us place on the list who are part of 
the bandwidth limitation should be making posts with the concern to 
increase that bandwidth by striving to turn the questioners into 
answerers. Doing so frees up bandwidth for the second purpose of a users 
list: discussion about the application. It also tends to grow the list 
membership and community activity (I've been active in hundreds of lists 
over the years, the ones that grew all followed this consideration, the 
rest stagnated or died off).
> ps: Please don't start a message board unless you're prepared to
> populate it with experts. It's much easier to give incorrect advice than
> to fix the resulting damage, especially when that advice is permanently
> archived on the web.
>   
Please don't start a message board at all. They are not a good medium 
for discussions. It would serve to split the community. Also I hate 
being locked in to a web interface.

OTOH a google group type of interface to a mailing list is a good thing. 
The discussions stay within an email client (where they should as an 
email client should be designed to use for discussions), yet the list is 
made more accessible because posts can be read/written/searched without 
the need of an email client.

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