Guest guest Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 > Sometimes being a moderator makes you feel like a stand-up comedian > in front of a bored crowd, trying to entertain them and to catch > their attention. I'm gonna be more encouraging in a moment, but: I know the feeling. When I ran a list for pesco-vegetarians, after the first six-month flush of enthusiasm, it was just me and one other woman doing ALL the recipe-posting. I tried themes, I tried contests, I tried being serious about how I saw the list as a cooperative venture, I tried joshing them, I tried venting frustration (not a useful thing to do onlist, as I discovered), I tried guilting on them (even less useful), I even tried saying I'd end the list if people didn't post. Finally I gave up, probably too soon, and just said, " Look, if it's just the two of us trading recipes, we can do it without all the list maintenance " , and shut it down. I wish now I hadn't done most of that, but hey, you live and learn. That said, I do think it's possible you're getting discouraged too soon. I believe you may be reckoning without the fact that lists go in cycles. For instance, this is gorgeous weather in much of the eastern US, and the first real break in the summer heat; many if not most who _can_ be outdoors _are_ outdoors, away from the computer. They'll likely be back (right, everybody?); then they'll be away again for awhile as the kids go back to school, and so forth. > Maybe I lack the talent It's not about talent, and putting yourself down doesn't help, in private or in public; it's just the nature of the beast. Cooking lists just don't stay active all the time, and most people on them don't post regularly; remember, people often join cooking lists about types of cuisine they want to learn more about because they don't know much yet, not types they already know well and from which they have lots to contribute to everyone else. They see it as a sort of recipe newsletter where they can pick up ideas, and they feel intimidated about sharing their own. (And then there are the merely lazy, who make up some of nearly any list at all. You know who you are. :-)) My Rx, in a nutshell: Try themes. Try contests. They can be fun. And be patient, with yourself and us. Rain @@@@ \\\\\\ ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Thank you, Rain! Yes, you are certainly right..I tend to forget about the existence of summer here with this constant rain. I'll just let things run smoother until autumn..and the idea about contests is not bad. Let me see, hm, the first prize will be to become moderator for a month. The funny thing is, that last year for several reasons I wasn't really online for quite some time and everyobody posted more frequently. On the other hand, I know about mailing lists that are really professional with a lot of people being specialists on certain topics - and nothing is moving there, either. Anyway, you saved the day! Mine at least. Cheers, Gabriella , raincrone@j... > I'm gonna be more encouraging in a moment, but: > > I know the feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 As an owner-moderator of my own list,becomingyounger, I must agree with rain, and I thought it was a very good post. I do 95% of the posting to my own list, but that is okay because I am an expert iin food and herbs and how they affect the body, so I would not expect everyone to post. I too have found that it does seem to run in cycles. Everything funs in cycles for that matter!! WHile I am passionate about what I do, I do not expect others to be as passionate about it as I am. As an economist, one who knows about cycles, in college I postulated what I called the Budweiser theorum, which goes something like this..... As long as the average man has a budweiser in his hand, and a sporting even on the TV, he is content and it makes no difference how the economy is performing, but take those away, and WATCH OUT!! I think that it is all about passion for what you do, and while the average person really has very little passion, we do get passionate about things ocassionally!! You are doing a good job Gabriella!! raincrone wrote:> Sometimes being a moderator makes you feel like a stand-up comedian > in front of a bored crowd, trying to entertain them and to catch > their attention. I'm gonna be more encouraging in a moment, but: I know the feeling. When I ran a list for pesco-vegetarians, after the first six-month flush of enthusiasm, it was just me and one other woman doing ALL the recipe-posting. I tried themes, I tried contests, I tried being serious about how I saw the list as a cooperative venture, I tried joshing them, I tried venting frustration (not a useful thing to do onlist, as I discovered), I tried guilting on them (even less useful), I even tried saying I'd end the list if people didn't post. Finally I gave up, probably too soon, and just said, " Look, if it's just the two of us trading recipes, we can do it without all the list maintenance " , and shut it down. I wish now I hadn't done most of that, but hey, you live and learn. That said, I do think it's possible you're getting discouraged too soon. I believe you may be reckoning without the fact that lists go in cycles. For instance, this is gorgeous weather in much of the eastern US, and the first real break in the summer heat; many if not most who _can_ be outdoors _are_ outdoors, away from the computer. They'll likely be back (right, everybody?); then they'll be away again for awhile as the kids go back to school, and so forth. > Maybe I lack the talent It's not about talent, and putting yourself down doesn't help, in private or in public; it's just the nature of the beast. Cooking lists just don't stay active all the time, and most people on them don't post regularly; remember, people often join cooking lists about types of cuisine they want to learn more about because they don't know much yet, not types they already know well and from which they have lots to contribute to everyone else. They see it as a sort of recipe newsletter where they can pick up ideas, and they feel intimidated about sharing their own. (And then there are the merely lazy, who make up some of nearly any list at all. You know who you are. :-)) My Rx, in a nutshell: Try themes. Try contests. They can be fun. And be patient, with yourself and us. Rain @@@@ \\\\\\ ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Thank you, Mark! The strange thing about the Internet is, that you do and don't keep in touch with people you actually don't know. Writing for a magazine in print or a newspaper is so much different, because, you remain in a different position, something I find easier, because once it is printed, there is a distance to it. Moderating a group is indeed like pulling cards or rabbits out of your sleeves and your hat, but it is a fact, that I like doing it, I like searching for new recipes, try them out and post them. So, if everyone is happy, I am happy, too. By the way, it would be of interest for many members if all of you moderating a group could put a link to it into the " Link " section. I have found (and missed) many interesting groups this way. Warm regards, Gabriella , Mark Jackson <thesportsguru47> wrote: > As an owner-moderator of my own list,becomingyounger, I must agree with rain, and I thought it was a very good post. I do 95% of the posting to my own list, but that is okay because I am an expert iin food and herbs and how they affect the body, so I would not expect everyone to post. I too have found that it does seem to run in cycles. Everything funs in cycles for that matter!! WHile I am passionate about what I do, I do not expect others to be as passionate about it as I am. As an economist, one who knows about cycles, in college I postulated what I called the Budweiser theorum, which goes something like this..... As long as the average man has a budweiser in his hand, and a sporting even on the TV, he is content and it makes no difference how the economy is performing, but take those away, and WATCH OUT!! I think that it is all about passion for what you do, and while the average person really has very little passion, we do get passionate about things ocassionally!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Hi! My name is Tricia and I have been lurking for a couple of months. I have 2 baby boys at home, so it is hard to have time to type up recipes. I am going to make more of an effort. I don't have any recipe software. I am trying to remember if it has to be posted in a certain way or if anyone can post. I am a member of another veggie list group and our recipes have to be posted in Mastercook (i think that is it) form. I have been a vegetarian for 10 years now, my husband has been one for 11 years. I have been Jewish all my life! I live in Dallas, TX and have 2 boys: Samuel, 2 1/2 and Zevi 1. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Hi Tricia! Thank you for posting and I'm sorry I made everyone feel bad now! With two baby sons, you certainly have more than enough to do, so, lurking is more than all right No, we don't demand any formatting and I think the groups that use Mastercook use the recipes on a website later on or an archive to be downloaded. Everyone can post anything and just by normal email (or if you access the group directly on , on the group's website. Warm regards, Gabriella PS. Samuel and Zevi are beautiful names! , tofulove@a... wrote: > Hi! My name is Tricia and I have been lurking for a couple of months. I > have 2 baby boys at home, so it is hard to have time to type up recipes. I am > going to make more of an effort. I don't have any recipe software. I am trying > to remember if it has to be posted in a certain way or if anyone can post. I > am a member of another veggie list group and our recipes have to be posted in > Mastercook (i think that is it) form. > > I have been a vegetarian for 10 years now, my husband has been one for 11 > years. I have been Jewish all my life! I live in Dallas, TX and have 2 boys: > Samuel, 2 1/2 and Zevi 1. > > Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 In a message dated 7/27/2004 2:16:05 PM Central Daylight Time, gabriella_kapsaski writes: Hi Tricia! Thank you for posting and I'm sorry I made everyone feel bad now! No! You didn't make me feel bad! Just kind of reminded me to start posting. I have been making some yummy things lately. My recipes are pretty easy, as I am a beginner in the cooking area! Tricia (Samuel 12/8/01 and Zevi 8/10/03) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Then we can be looking forward to one of your yummy recipes now and then, Tricia? Wonderful! By the way, I think that the " easiest " recipes are often the most wonderful ones, especially in Vegetarian cooking, where every ingredient stands for itself. Warm regards, Gabriella PS. It is Samuel's birthday soon. Will he have a " real party " ? Becoming three years old is the age, when they are really ready for a big day! I have a recipe for " mice-cakes " I used to make for my kids when they were younger and will try to find and post it. , tofulove@a... wrote: > In a message dated 7/27/2004 2:16:05 PM Central Daylight Time, > gabriella_kapsaski writes: > Hi Tricia! Thank you for posting and I'm sorry I made everyone feel > bad now! > No! You didn't make me feel bad! Just kind of reminded me to start posting. > I have been making some yummy things lately. My recipes are pretty easy, as > I am a beginner in the cooking area! > > > Tricia (Samuel 12/8/01 and Zevi 8/10/03) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 On Jul 26, 2004, at 4:57 PM, raincrone wrote: >> Sometimes being a moderator makes you feel like a stand-up comedian >> in front of a bored crowd, trying to entertain them and to catch >> their attention. >> Don't feel bad, I also have a group and have watched as talk ebbed and flowed. Sometimes its busy sometimes quite but I only have 15 women on it. I put things on it that I feel are important and have set it up so others can add things as they wish. It took me a while to understand that it was no insult to me when the list was quite. I am not Jewish but am vegetarian with Lithuanian upbringing in my food. I don't think you would like a lot of things my family ate. My mother worried about me till the day she died because I stopped eating meat. She never understood and thought I had a mental problem. Peace Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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