Programmin' Prim8

I spend a lot of time on software project mailing lists. They get the job done, but seem to be an inefficient use of everyone's time. Usually about half the traffic is either trolls, noobs, students looking for a bit of homework, or flames directed at the first three. This seems to be the result of engineering around the technical systems but ignoring the social systems.

The following proposal outlines a social system for mailing lists that would reduce noob traffic for the developers, and create a less hostile environment for the noobs. I have no time to implement such a system, if you do then feel free to use/modify this proposal.