[Faith-talk] What is the purpose of this list because it's unclear to me and probably a lot of us

[David Andrews]

Linda:

I am not the Moderator, -- so it isn't up to me to dictate what is on 
each and every list.  Personally, I have no problem with the prayer 
requests, and even the odd forward or two.  However, as list Owner, 
and someone who has done this for many years, and someone who 
oversees about 200 lists I have a good sense for what makes a list 
work and what doesn't.  The Faith-talk list does have a sense of 
"community" which I personally think is a good thing -- all our 
successful lists develop some sense of community.  However, just 
forwards does drive people away.

Finally, with all our lists I nudge them to remember that this is the 
NFB and we are blindness-related.  We don't run the list just to be a 
place for daily messages, or prayer requests.  I am sure there are 
hundreds, if not thousands of lists in the general religion world 
that do that.

This doesn't mean that prayers or forwards do not have a place on our 
list -- they do -- but we do this to support each others as blind persons.

David Andrews, List Owner

At 09:49 PM 4/28/2012, you wrote:
>David,
>
>It was Robert Parish, the division's first president.
>
>I have been allowing some prayer requests because I believe that it 
>is important to pray for special needs. You're right, though; this 
>is not a prayer group, but prayer is an integral part of the life of 
>a Christian, and it's part of encouraging each other.
>
>Blessings,
>
>Linda
>
>At 09:13 PM 4/28/2012, you wrote:
>>Here is the official description:
>>
>>Faith-talk is a list where people can discuss matters related to 
>>faith and/or blindness.  Persons of all faiths are welcome.  Feel 
>>free to post, and have fun!
>>
>>As list owner I will say that I was approached by the person who 
>>was president of the NFB division that deals with church etc. -- I 
>>can't remember the exact name.  The concern was that blind persons 
>>were having problems with their churches because of blindness, and 
>>we needed a place to discuss the intersection of faith, church, and 
>>blindness.  It was never intended as a prayer group, or a 
>>repository for forwards.
>>
>>The moderator has asked that people limit themselves to one forward 
>>a day, but some people seem to be unable or unwilling to follow that request.
>>
>>David Andrews, List Owner
>>
>>
>>At 06:32 PM 4/28/2012, you wrote:
>>>OK, maybe we need clarification as to what this list is about then.
>>>
>>>Is it about forwarding daily devotionals, talking about faith, 
>>>prayer requests, what?
>>>
>>>all I've seen is prayer requests, and forwards or daily devotional.
>>>
>>>Please explain what the purpose of this list is so that we call 
>>>can decide if this list serves our spiritual purpose.
>>>
>>>This is a question best answered by the moderators.
>>>
>>>Jenny
>>>On Apr 28, 2012, at 5:26 PM, Andrew Edgcumbe wrote:
>>>
>>> > Hi you know i personally feel this list is  domonated with forwards.
>>> >
>>> > You know there was one forward that paul sent in and that was a valid
>>> > one  but I fully understand if you are looking for prayer requests and
>>> > things like that or prayers and things like that I know of a couple
>>> > groups that are really good  that you can do  if any of you do want
>>> > that info i can email you off list.
>>> >
>>> > On 4/28/12, Cory McMahon <cjmc404 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> >> Dear Loral and all,
>>> >>
>>> >> There are other e-mails besides forwards posted to the list 
>>> and, if I'm not
>>> >>
>>> >> mistaken, the moderator has sent e-mails requesting that we 
>>> limit the amount
>>> >>
>>> >> of forwards that are sent to the list. It seems, however, that 
>>> individuals
>>> >> do not wish to adhere to this request, unfortunately.
>>> >>
>>> >> Sincerely,
>>> >>
>>> >> Cory McMahon
>>> >>
>>> >> --------------------------------------------------
>>> >> From: "Laurel" <laurel.stockard at gmail.com>
>>> >> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 3:23 PM
>>> >> To: "Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion"
>>> >> <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> >> Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Unsubscribing because of the forwards
>>> >>
>>> >>> You know, i just subscribed to this list, but all the messages I see
>>> >>> are fowards, so I'm thinking about unsubscribing too. Does anybody
>>> >>> actually post to this anything other than fowards? I'm not trying to
>>> >>> be mean, I'm just honestly asking. If all people want to do is send
>>> >>> fowards, that's ok, but if that's the case, I might unsubscribe.
>>> >>> Laurel
>>> >>>
>>> >>> On 4/28/12, John J. Boyer <john at godtouches.org> wrote:
>>> >>>> This is my last message to the list. I will not receive replies.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> John
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> --
>>> >>>> John J. Boyer, Executive Director
>>> >>>> GodTouches Digital Ministry, Inc.
>>> >>>> http://www.godtouches.org
>>> >>>> Madison, Wisconsin, USA
>>> >>>> Peace, Love, Service
>>> >>>>